Race Preview - Monday 13th July
By David Hucker
Monday sees the second of three meetings at Newton Abbot this month before the summer jumps programme takes a near three-week break starting on the 27th July.
The last meeting saw the course reach the halfway point in its 2026 season and amongst the highlights so far have been three-time chase winner Rickety Bridge and Beorma, who was winning her sixth race in a row when successful last month.
Arctic Voyage, Lady Kara, Outmaster and Supreme Yeats have all won twice over hurdles and a double on Viroflay and Golden Son in May saw Olive Nicholls call time on her riding career to join her father as assistant trainer. The longest-priced winner was 28/1 shot Winning Paddy, closely followed by He Is A Cracker who won at odds of 25/1 a week ago.
The Sun Racing The Home Of Racing Maiden Hurdle over two and a quarter miles gets Monday's six-race card underway at 2.42pm and leading trainer Dan Skelton has former point-to-pointer Fine Thing, Gambino, also entered at Stratford on Sunday, and Jasper Glory amongst the 13 entries. Jonjo & A J O'Neill, who trained the winner of the opening race at the last meeting, have two entries in the shape of God Of Fire and Nightflyer, although both could go to Stratford instead.
Gore Point, an easy winner over the course last time, is entered in the Racing To School Reaches 250,000 Handicap Chase and also later on the card. He won in the style of a progressive horse and could prove too good for another course winner Ellerton, who beat Cobbler's Boy by five lengths in May. Miss Denver has been a model of consistency this season and the ex-French Ras Kassar, also with two entries on the card, would be making his debut for trainer David Pipe.
There are 26 entries in the Racing Club Handicap Hurdle including course winners Best Night, Coupe De Gold, Get The Value, Jukebox Annie, Miss Kassiopi and Saucats. It looks a bit of a puzzle at the moment, but the picture will become clearer with the declarations on Saturday.
Byzantium, a course winner over hurdles last season, faded out of contention behind American Sniper here in May and may make his chasing debut for trainer Paul Nicholls in the Par Inn Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs, although could come up against Gore Point and Ellerton as well as Limerick Leader, a beaten favourite behind Danny's Friend last month.
Byzantium and Limerick Leader are also entered in the longest race of the afternoon, the William Hill Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles, but may find ex-Irish Muskerry Rock, who would be having his third run for the Skelton stable, a tough nut to crack.
Skelton has two entries in the closing Savanna Stevens Open National Hunt Flat Race in course winner Park Hall, who would carry a penalty for her win last month, and Sparkling Water, formerly trained by Ralph Beckett. Thepassingtyphoon would be another with a penalty for his win over the course in early June and Lucy Glitters, who hung to her right in the closing stages when runner-up to Lady Of Tarsus at Worcester on her debut, would be worth a look.