By David Hucker
It's school half-term week and there will be entertainment for all at Newton Abbot's Halloween Family Fun Day on Wednesday which brings the curtain down on the 2026 season.
The first of the seven races, the £15,000 St Austell Brewery Novices' Hurdle, is due off at 1.21pm.and leading trainer Dan Skelton has chosen Vango Can Go from his three entries. Vango Can Go was last seen out when finishing eighth, beaten just 4¾ lengths, in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival in March and, if he transfers that form to hurdles, is the one to beat.
There is another £15,000 in the prize fund for the Wollens Full Spectrum Law Handicap Hurdle and Skelton runs hat-trick seeking Real Quartz, owned by Ged Mason and Sir Alex Ferguson, from his four entries. Paul Nicholls has declared Calvino and course winner Lallygag, but the main danger to Real Quartz could be three-time hurdle winner Vol Royale whose trainer Kayley Woollacott had a winner at Cheltenham on Saturday.
Record-breaking point-to-point rider Gina Andrews rides the Nicholls-trained It's A Breeze, who has twice been placed since back-to-back victories over the course in July, in the Brewers Decorating Centres Albany Derby Female Jockeys' Handicap Chase. Less experienced is Lilly Jones, who has ridden one winner from two rides this season and three in all, but will be on board an old hand in Enjoy d'Allen who will be lining up for his 40th chase start.
Warwickshire trainer Olly Murphy runs wide-margin Worcester winner All Well And Good in the Passage House Hotel South Devon Gateway Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Qualifier). All Well And Good is set to carry 12-0 on his handicap debut and has to give a lot of weight to Warwick winner Rock On Cowboy, now trained by Fergal O'Brien, who is returning after a 523-day absence and runs in this in preference to a later race.
Course and distance winner Opening Bid, formerly trained by Chris Down, ran well at Chepstow following wind surgery earlier this month and could be another winner for the in-form Joe Tizzard in the Persimmon Homes Handicap Chase at the expense of Irish-trained mare Mo Ghillle Mar who was third at Fairyhouse last time.
The Tizzard-trained Mask Of Zorro, four times a winner over hurdles, could make a winning debut over fences in the Sky Sports Racing Novices' Handicap Chase. Badbury Rings returned after a 587-day absence to run fourth on his first chase start at Worcester and this dual hurdles winner should come on for the run.
Nine line up for the closing Thank You & Farewell Dr Tim Tilsley Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race and there will be plenty of interest in the Skelton-trained The Gift Shop, winner of his sole Irish point-to-point. Par Avion, runner-up at Taunton, will bring some form to the contest, but De Inovator, another from the pointing field, could be the one to follow The Gift Shop home.