Race Report - Tuesday 23rd June
Parasols and sun cream the order of the day at Newton Abbot Ladies Night
Race Report by David Hucker
Although Worcester's meeting the following day had already been abandoned because of the extreme heat, it was all-system-go for Newton Abbot's annual Ladies Night, sponsored by Murray Group.
With Cogital withdrawn, seven were left for the opening Proper Job Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle over two miles and one furlong with the market headed by Stratford winner Saint Polo, who went off at 13/8. Second favourite was top-weight Norman Fletcher, who was looking for his first win since November 2024.
Norman Fletcher went past leader Applejack Poet turning for home, opening up a clear lead approaching the penultimate flight, but it didn't last long as he was collared by Saint Polo before the last and the favourite came clear in the hands of Jamie Neild to win comfortably by 1½ lengths.
Of the three that lined-up for the Celebrate Racing Staff Week Juvenile Maiden Hurdle only Sudbury Hill had jumping experience and he was the one that punters wanted to be on, being sent off the 5/6 favourite ahead of newcomers Affection and Keep Under Wraps.
With none of the runners wanting to make the running, Affection was a reluctant leader when the race eventually got under way. The pace quickened as the runners settled into their stride with all three in a line coming out of the back straight. It looked to lie between Sudbury Hill and Keep Under Wraps approaching the second-last hurdle, but Keep Under Wraps ran out, unseating Jack Tudor, leaving Sudbury Hill and Paul O'Brien to coast home from Affection.
Wide-margin Uttoxeter winner Coumeenoo was a uneasy favourite for the Happy Birthday June O'Dwyer Novices' Hurdle over two and three-quarter miles in the face of support for course winner Outmaster. With odds of 80/1 and upwards on offer about the other four runners, the race looked a match between the two, but Coumeenoo took off too soon at the penultimate flight when in the lead, leaving Outmaster to come home 65 lengths clear of Ballinoulart.
Phantom Gold was another fancied withdrawal from the EBCS Hideout Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle over two and a quarter miles in which Warfleet, trained by Jimmy Frost at Buckfastleigh, stepped up on his previous run when third behind Cogital over the course earlier in the month to reel in Man Oh Man and Makinbecon on the run-in, winning by a short head.
Limerick Leader, beaten a neck on his first run for Lambourn trainer Nick Scholfield, was the clear market leader for the St. Austell Brewery Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs, but he could only finish third behind Danny's Friend, ridden by Jack Tudor, who led before the second-last fence to beat multiple point-to-point winner Walkin Out and record his second win over fences.
Tudor doubled up in the following Murray Group Gallop Handicap Hurdle over an extended three and a quarter miles on 7/2 shot Final Entry for trainer David Pipe, holding off the late challenge of the consistent Jager Time by the minimum margin of a nose, with I Am Spider Man in third.
Edgewell, ridden by Harry Reed, took the closing Thatchers Handicap Chase from the Cath Williams trained pair, Honey I'm Good and Benny Baloo, to give Nick Scholfield his third winner of the season.