Racing returns to Newton Abbot on Saturday for the beginning of another jump season

Easter Saturday sees the first of 18 jump meetings at Newton Abbot over the summer and autumn as the course celebrates 160 years of racing.

Amongst the fixtures will be four Family Days, starting on Tuesday, April 14, and four evening meetings, including the popular Ladies Day on Tuesday, June 23.

Highlight of Saturday’s six-race card is the £20,000 Happy 45th Birthday Andy Hurtley Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs, which has attracted 19 entries, including five-time chase winner Bumpy Evans and the hat-trick seeking Calymistic.

Prolific winner Jaipaletemps, trained by David Pipe, also has an entry at Chepstow on Thursday and leading trainer Dan Skelton has two, including Major Fortune, a course winner over hurdles, who is also entered at Haydock Park.

Whilst he is unlikely to top his best season for winners of 205 in 2018/19, Skelton has already set a record prize money total this year of more than £4m and may have enough in hand to wrest the trainers’ championship from Willie Mullins.

The afternoon kicks off at 2:00pm with the South West Rail Solutions Ltd. National Hunt Maiden Hurdle and Skelton has two amongst the 22 entries.

Dutch Corner, runner-up at Exeter last time, looks the best of his pair but, on official ratings, he needs to find a bit to beat Knead A Win if he runs here instead of at Chepstow on Thursday. Irish point-to-point winner Hardly Surprising, owned by J P McManus, is improving with each run and is another to note.

Twice a winner this season, the consistent Begin The Luck should run well in the Les Drew Hello Matey I Handicap Chase, although Skelton has three entries with Leicester winner Delgany Deadline looking the pick.

Hereford winner By The Grace, who also has an entry at Market Rasen on Sunday, could score again on the South West Rail Solutions Ltd. Mares Handicap Hurdle, although Belle Montrose, whose last three runs have been at Fakenham, shouldn’t be far away.

Call Me Legend, one of two entries for trainers Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, could add to his two wins this season in the longest race of the afternoon, the South West Rail Solutions Ltd. Handicap Hurdle over an extended three and a quarter miles, although Skelton has entered the hat-trick seeking Twistthenightaway who looks to be on the upgrade.

The Newton Abbot On Course Bookmakers Fillies Junior National Hunt Flat Race brings the afternoon to a close and, with half the entries not having run before, the betting may be the best guide to the winner. Of those with form. Crystal Connemara and Enya have both shown enough in their two runs to suggest they can win a race.

Gates open at noon and there will be a free Cadburys Creme Egg for the first 250 people through the turnstiles. There is a complimentary bus service from Newton Abbot railway station and, to complete the day, local group The Shrine will be performing in the Paddock Suite after racing.