Race Preview - Saturday 17th October
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 at the age of eight 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 Nicholls has entered two in Go West and the 142-rated Quebecois. Not to be outdone, leading trainer Dan Skelton, who started the week three short of a century of winners for the season, has entered three in Blueking d'Oroux, Country Mile and Kingdom Narcissus. Tamarind Bay has had a fruitful summer, winning three of his five chases, and Potters Charm, the highest-rated horse in the race, made all the running to score on his chasing debut at Worcester on Monday.
The seven-race card starts at 1.05pm with the British Stallion Studs EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle over two miles and a furlong which has attracted 16 entries including the Skelton-trained pair Midnight Lexi and Trigg. Devon trainer Jane Williams got off the mark for the season at Chepstow last weekend and could be represented by Taunton winner Mecene.
The following £15,000 Konsileo Local Award Winning Commercial Insurer Handicap Hurdle has course winners Arctic Voyage and Morning Mayhem amongst the 11 entries. Skelton has entered Gambino and Misterdoc, both duel winners and in the same ownership, and Mister Ursus, whose trainer Olly Murphy landed Chepstow's valuable hurdle last Saturday, is another to note.
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. Playful Fox has had just one run over fences whereas Holy Legend would come into the race having won three of his nine chase starts.
Seven-time winner Beorma was pulled up after making mistakes over fences at Stratford when reappearing after a break and has four entries this week including in the First Office Print And IT Solutions Handicap Hurdle. Inion Tiogair has won three of her last four hurdle races and would be making her seasonal debut from a 10lb higher mark than last time and Mount Anglesby, who is also entered at Uttoxeter on Friday, was in with every chance when falling at Hereford.
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 has entered 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 could be a pointer.