Jun 22, 2016

Newton Abbot Ladies' Day race report 21 June 2016

This year’s St Austell Brewery Ladies’ Day at Newton Abbot lived up to expectations with the VIP Marquee and the enclosures brimming over with glamourous ladies and their partners. It proved to be a really glitzy spectacle, matched only by some thrilling racing during the evening.

Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies made a flying start to the season and Moabit brought up his 30th winner in front of a big crowd. Moabit, running in the colours of Owners Group, was sent off the red-hot 1-12 favourite to land the opening 80´s Gold, 14 August Novices´ Hurdle, the richest race of the evening. Taken into the lead by Twiston-Davies, he was passed after the second flight by the hard-pulling General Brook, who maintained his advantage until the back straight.

But, once Moabit regained the lead, the outcome was never in doubt and he came home well clear of Arthur Burrell, with General Brook plodding on to be third.

Saltash trainer Jackie du Plessis has Fear Glic in good form and he followed up his Stratford win a week ago by landing the Class 3 Austins Handicap Chase from joint top-weight Wadswick Court. Never out of the first two, he was sent clear of the field at the fourth-last fence by James Best and, although Wadswick Court, well-backed on his first run for the Peter Bowen stable, tried to lay down a challenge, Fear Glic, owned in partnership by the trainer and Graham Waterman, still had nine lengths to spare at the line.

Despite still waiting for his first win, Beggar’s Wishes headed the betting for the Thomas James Handicap Hurdle, in which point-to-point winners The Wealerdealer and Blazing Buck were also well-fancied. Beggar’s Wishes tried to make all the running, but had nothing left to give in the home straight where The Wealerdealer went to the front and saw off the challenges of Blazing Buck, who had raced on the outside throughout, and Garde Fou.

Backers of 2-1 favourite Mount Prospex knew their fate early on as he struggled to go the pace behind Molly Oscar in the Lewis Piper, Happy 18th Birthday Handicap Chase, eventually pulling up. Having made all the running, Molly Oscar still looked to have every chance with two fences to jump, but couldn’t fend off the challenge of 12-1 shot Relkwood, who beat locally-trained Red Penny by two lengths.

Bath trainer Neil Mulholland saddled two in the RGB Recruitment Ltd Novices´ Handicap Hurdle, with Earls Fort the more fancied, heading the betting market at 4-1.
Held up early on by Wayne Hutchinson, Earls Fort threaded his way through the big field to challenge at the final flight, but couldn’t get past the grey Aaman and Kingston Mimosa, who were separated by just a neck. Mexican Border had every chance with three flights to jump but, as with his last run, didn’t seem to see out the trip and a drop back in distance may help him get his head in front.

Plenty were in with a chance as the runners turned out of the back straight in the David Chillery Celebrates His Long Service Award Handicap Hurdle, but it was Walterwhite, trained by Philip Hobbs at Minehead and ridden by Natalie Parker, who took command and run on strongly from In On The Act, who was last as the field went out on their final circuit.

With Ladies’ Day over for 2016, there are still many more fixtures left on the 2016 calendar. Our next fixture is a 2-4-1 Friday on 1 July. To take advantage of this great offer book your tickets by Friday 24 June. Tickets are available online here or from the ticket office now.