By David Hucker
Newton Abbot stages the valuable Dartmoor Magazine Intermediate Chase on Saturday and racegoers will have a chance to meet previous winner Black Corton as part of the course's “meet an equine hero” series.
Trained by Paul Nicholls, Black Corton won 14 races and nearly £400,000 in prize money, including the feature race in 2017 when, ridden by Bryony Frost, now Le Clerc, he finished ahead of stable companion Frodon. Bryony struck up a good partnership with the horse, winning on seven other occasions, meaning she was in the saddle for more than half of Black Corton's victories.
It was Nicholls' daughter Megan who was on board for Black Corton's sole run on the flat in Royal Ascot's Queen Alexandra Stakes of June 2019 and he was retired after being pulled up at Kempton Park in February 2021 having competed in 40 races.
The feature race, worth £30,000, is run over a trip of two miles and five furlongs and looks to lie between the Nicholls-trained Quebecois and Country Mile, whose trainer Dan Skelton hit a century of winners for the season at Southwell on Tuesday. Quebecois, who has an official rating of 142, would have a good chance if reproducing the form he showed when third in a competitive handicap at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but Country Mile, a winner at Uttoxeter two weeks ago, will be race-fit.
The seven-race card starts at 1.05pm with the British Stallion Studs EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle over two miles and a furlong and Skelton has chosen Uttoxeter winner Trigg from his three entries. Devon trainer Jane Williams got off the mark for the season at Chepstow last weekend and saddles Taunton winner Mecene who, in receipt of weight from Trigg, could win again.
Dual winner Misterdoc is the Skelton representative in the following £15,000 Konsileo Local Award Winning Commercial Insurer Handicap Hurdle where he will be up against Arctic Voyage, twice a winner over the course. Hat-trick seeking Mister Ursus, whose trainer Olly Murphy is beginning to hit form, having landed a valuable prize at Chepstow last Saturday, carries top weight.
Reteti, who finished third over hurdles at the course last time, is an interesting entry in the Bet With The On Course Bookmakers Handicap Chase. He makes his chasing debut, but the Skelton-trained Playful Fox has the experience of a run over fences which could stand him in good stead.
Seven-time winner Beorma was pulled up after making mistakes over fences at Stratford when reappearing after a break and had four entries this week, all over hurdles. She runs in the First Office Print And IT Solutions Handicap Hurdle and could have Mount Anglesby, who runs here instead of Uttoxeter on Friday, to beat.
The longest race of the afternoon is the DGM Robotic Mowers Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles and Exeter trainer Sue Gardner saddles two in Uttoxeter winner Daring Plan and Testflight, who prevailed by half a length from Flashy Boy over the course last month. The third horse, Broadway Honey, has won twice since, so the form looks good and Flashy Boy, who made a mistake at the final fence, is taken to reverse the placings.
As usual, there is not much form to go on in the closing Sky Sports Racing Open National Hunt Flat Race and a market move for Nicholls' newcomer Havanotherguinness would be a pointer, but. Duhallow Storm, fourth over the course on his debut, could make experience count.
Bootlegger’s Turn will be preforming after racing at the Party In The Paddock.