Race Preview - Monday 7th September - UPDATED
By David Hucker
With the jumps season due to go up a gear in a month's time, the recent rain has been a welcome sight, although courses that haven't raced through the summer are still looking parched and contingency measures, including hurdle-only meetings, are being considered by the British Horseracing Authority.
There are no such problems at Newton Abbot and Monday sees the first of five meetings still to come in 2026 with a seven-race card topped by the £15,000 Par Inn Handicap Hurdle. Leading trainer Dan Skelton had entered two and has chosen the front-running Edelak, a four-time winner this season already, as the stable representative. With a third of the season gone, Skelton was on 76 winners chasing Martin Pipe's all-time record of 243 and added to his score over the weekend.
Ellerton was a comfortable winner from his sole rival at the last meeting and receives a lot of weight from Edelak, whilst dual course winner Arctic Voyage can never be discounted.
The action gets underway at 2.00pm with the Sky Sports Racing Juvenile Hurdle in which course winner Timely Salute and Uttoxeter winner Hello Garda have to give weight to all their rivals. Timely Salute beat Us Officer here in July and he, in turn was well behind Hello Garda at Uttoxeter who looks to have the stronger form despite being a surprise 40/1 winner on the day.
Both could struggle this time, with the race going to one of the newcomers and Moment Of Light, a winner of two all-weather races when trained by James Owen and now with Dan Skelton, likely to be a popular choice. Jerseygeordie, a winner over one mile and six furlongs at Les Landes last time, could also be worth a look.
Explode, lightly raced over hurdles but a winner twice on the flat this summer, is an interesting entry for trainer Faye Bramley in the following Race Against Waste Maiden Hurdle. Crackalackin, runner-up in his last two starts, and four-time flat winner Crystal Mariner look the main dangers.
There are two chases on the card starting with the St. Austell Brewery Handicap Chase in which three-time hurdles winner Saint Polo, unplaced on his only chase start to date, looks the one to beat. Most Wanted was runner-up to Buxted Reel over hurdles last month and the consistent Miss Denver should run well from bottom weight.
Wide-margin course winner Jager Time could defy top weight in the longest race of the afternoon, the Devonport Royal Dockyard Social Club Handicap Hurdle over an extended three and a quarter miles. The main danger could come from My Girl Katie, three times a course winner this season and seemingly still on the upgrade.
The second chase of the afternoon is the Grandad Swales Happy 80th Birthday Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase in which trainer Paul Nicholls runs Jetty May, pulled up here in June, in preference to the closing hurdle race. Mr McWhinny added to his Irish point-to-point win when scoring at Market Rasen and, stepping up in distance today, is the one to catch.
Half of the 16 entries for the closing Newton Abbot Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle have stood their ground including course winner Makinbecon, who has slipped down a little in the handicap. Bottom-weight Ghost Jury would be in with chance on her run here in July when second to Miss Kassiopi and the Skelton-trained Mystic Wind, fourth to the in-form Stellarmasterpiece at Stratford, is looking for his first win after four starts.