Newton Abbot Racecourse: Two more winning favourites for Paul Nicholls

It was an evening of mixed results once racing got underway at Newton Abbot on Tuesday evening, with both favourites and double-figure odds chances emerging victorious at the Devon track. 

Somerset-based trainer Paul Nicholls continued his excellent strain of form with a double, while brothers James and Sean Bowen both rode a winner in consecutive races. 

Read below for a full report of Tuesday’s Newton Abbot card, courtesy of Racing TV, who offer the latest horse racing free bet offers.

The first race, an amateur jockey’s handicap hurdle over two miles and a furlong (5.57) was won by 7/2 shot Feel The Pinch in a very tight finish between the top four. Ridden by James King, the Robbie Llewellyn-trained gelding won by head, with just a length between him, Colonel Lesley in second, favourite Juggernaut in third, and Thahab Ifraj in fourth. 

Rider Caoilin Quinn added to an already very strong season in the second race, a juvenile maiden hurdle (6.27), by riding Gary and Josh Moore’s Silk And Steel to win at 12/1. At the last hurdle, the race appeared to be between the eventual winner and second favourite Blue Tempus, who ran into the final obstacle very greenly, probably costing him a length or two, and allowing the more professional Silk And Steel to roll into the lead. Three runners pulled up approaching the final couple of furlongs; Bob The Bandit, Marrakesh Dawn and New Gold Dream. 

Paul Nicholls’ Byzantium justified favouritism more than easily in the third race; a two and three-quarter mile novices’ hurdle (6.57), barely breaking a sweat to win by 25 lengths under five-pound claimer Jay Tidball. The grey gelding looks a talent for the future, having beaten the very capable Time To Bite and Kill The Groove. Jay Tidball has now ridden five winners from 11 rides this term, giving him a strike rate of 45%. 

The first of the Bowen brothers rode a winner in race four, the two and a quarter mile novices’ handicap hurdle (7.27), which was won by 7/1 shot Stiletto, in the hands of Sean Bowen. The pair got the better of favourite Privilege, who had led the field, in a duel to the finish line. Each-way backers of Zufal will have been pleased when he crossed the line in third at a big price of 33/1. There were three non-finishers; Bruce Gobbler and Prairie Queen both pulled up, and Remember Moi unseated her rider. 

James Bowen’s victory came in the fifth race, a two mile and five-furlong handicap chase (7.57) aboard Limerick Leader. Trapista unseated her rider, leaving the eventual winner only three opponents to get past, and he did so doing just enough. With 6/1 shot Great d’Ange closing in quickly, the Alison Thorpe-trained gelding needed the line, which came just in time for him to be a winning favourite. 

Paul Nicholls’ second win of the evening was next, courtesy of Keel Strand in the three and a quarter mile handicap hurdle (8.27). With stable jockey Harry Cobden in the saddle, the gelding beat nine rivals home, therefore winning his second consecutive start post wind surgery, which has clearly proved effective for the son of Authorized. The horses to chase him home were Spitalfield at 6/1 and Jack’s Jury at 11/1. 

The final winner of the evening was Noel Williams’ Lucky Rose in the three and a quarter mile handicap chase (8.57). The mare jumped the last few fences efficiently under jockey James Davies and edged into the lead approaching the line, overtaking favourite Illogical Logic and Testflight. The two horses to pull up were Janeslittlevoice and Firefly Lane. 

Next racing at Newton Abbot is an evening meeting on Friday, July 4