A superb winning day for the favourites at Newton Abbot Racecourse

The bookmakers will be feeling the sting after Monday afternoon’s racing at Newton Abbot, which saw four out of six favourites first past the post, with well-fancied horses obliging in the remaining two races. 

Somerset-based trainer Paul Nicholls was, predictably, back in the winners’ enclosure, alongside trainer-jockey combination Anthony Honeyball and Sam Twiston-Davies, who together reeled in a double. 

Read on for a full report of Newton Abbot’s Monday card, courtesy of Racing TV, who have the latest horse racing free bets offers.

The afternoon’s first race, a two and a quarter mile maiden hurdle (2.20), saw six runners jump off, with Anthony Honeyball’s Breaking Cover the favourite at 7/4. The gelding was returning from a 413-day break, but found fitness to be no disadvantage whatsoever as he sped into the lead ahead of Three Pikes and Roadshow in the final furlong under a superbly timed ride from Sam Twiston-Davies. This victory became the first leg of the double for the trainer and rider. 

Next was a two-mile handicap chase (2.50), in which Paul Nicholls’ Centara - winner of his last two starts, including at this track - was the hot favourite at 10/11. Of the five runners, Warren Greatrex’s Jet Of Dreams was next closest in the market at 7/2, but could have been closer given the favourites’ eventual winning distance of only one and half lengths. There were less than seven lengths between the first and last horse home. 

Race three was a handicap hurdle over two miles and one furlong (3.20). There were only four runners here, of which John O’Shea’s Get The Value was 13/8 favourite, followed by Max Of Stars at 7/4, Howth at 3/1 and War lord at 16/1. Despite being so well fancied, the favourite tailed off and was eased down by his rider as Howth went clear of the rest, jumping stylishly and seemingly finding it easy, eventually finishing 17 lengths ahead of the rest. 

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The Twiston-Davies and Honeyball team was back in action for the fourth race, getting favourite Gore Point home in front by just a neck ahead of the JP McManus-owned Sassified in the two and a quarter mile handicap hurdle (3.50). Apart from 28/1 shot Albert Park, who was struggling before the third flight from home, the field were well grouped going into the closing stages, and Sassified looked the likely winner for a while, but Gore Point just managed to quicken better going towards the line and just made it. 

Another small field, race five hosted four runners in the handicap chase run over two miles and five furlongs (4.20). Having already had a double, Anthony Honeyball’s Mister Upton was understandably the favourite at 2/1 at the off, but Chris Honour’s extraordinary Time To Bite made all from the beginning and got progressively further and further ahead of the rest, who became increasingly strung out. The Bryan Carver-ridden gelding crossed the line a mammoth 57 lengths ahead of the next horse, Great d’Ange, with 114 lengths between the first and last home. 

Finally, a bumper rounded off the afternoon’s racing (4.50), with the shortest-priced favourite of the day; Mickey Bowen’s Queen Kate, who jumped off at 1/8, having run well in the Grade Two mares’ bumper at the Aintree Festival. As far as the market was concerned, she had no rivals, with Lady Kara as second favourite at 11/2. Conditional rider Shane Fenelon bided his time on the mare in the middle of the pack before asking for effort in the final furlong, asking her for just enough to win, though she clearly had more in the tank and is a very exciting prospect.  

Newton Abbot results - Monday:

2.20 - Breaking Cover (7/4F)

2.50 - Centata (10/11F)

3.20 - Howth (3/1)

3.50 - Gore Point (9/4F)

4.20 - Time To Bite (9/4)

4.50 - Queen Kate (1/8F) 

Next on the menu at Newton Abbot Races is the superb Family Day meeting on Sunday, July 20.