Race Preview - Sunday 19th July - UPDATED
By David Hucker
On Sunday, Newton Abbot stages its final meeting of the month before the summer jumps season takes a break with a six-race card and the annual Rowcroft Hospice Mascot Race to keep racegoers entertained.
The racing action gets underway at 2.30pm with the John Bircham And Stephen "Jagger" Hayes Memorial Juvenile Maiden Hurdle in which leading trainer Dan Skelton has chosen High Aura, whom he also owns, from his two entries. She finished third on her racecourse debut at Stratford and looks the one to beat, with Wolverhampton scorer My Champion, making his hurdling debut, one to note.
Interestingly, Harry Skelton is riding at Newton Abbot, rather than on his brother's runners at their local course Stratford, and Getmyfriend could be another winner in the Happy 80th Birthday Ted Hull Mares' Maiden Hurdle. Ask Peter, three times a winner on the flat, but still looking for her first win over hurdles, tries again and her trainer Anthony Honeyball also runs Steal A Glance, who finished behind Getmyfriend over the course last time in a race won by Likewhatyousee.
It's A Breeze beat The Gypsy Davey at the last meeting and they meet again in the Dick Oliver At Newton Abbot Races Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs. The 7lb penalty carried by It's A Breeze for that win should help bring them closer together and the runner-up may well take his revenge.
There are some familiar names in the Brendon Soper Memorial Handicap Hurdle with Ugo Bingo, Makinbecon and Saucats all having run at the course this season. Saucats finished 2¾ lengths behind Raffles Nobu at the last meeting with Ugo Bingo back in fifth and there is no reason why he shouldn't fare best again. Course winner Makinbecon returned to form at Market Rasen two weeks ago, but is now 10lbs higher in the weights than when he beat Saucats here in May.
Byzantium and Time To Bite top the weights in the Zero To Exit Handicap Hurdle over three and a quarter miles. They met last year when Byzantium won by 25 lengths and, with Time To Bite's best efforts coming over fences, it is difficult to see how he can close the gap. Next in the weights is the Skelton-trained Muskerry Rock, a winner over fences at the last meeting, but who will run from a 10lb lower mark over hurdles.
The one that appeals most is Jager Time, who went down by the minimum margin of a nose to Final Entry here last month and, if delivering his challenge earlier, could prevail this time.
Course winner Edgewell has to overcome a 6lb rise in the weights if he is to complete a hat-trick in the closing Sun Racing Summer Jumps Championship Handicap Chase and meets Honey I'm Good, the choice from four entries for trainer Cath Williams, on worse terms for the ¾ length margin between them in June. Top-weight Premier Fantasy, a multiple winner in point-to-points, tackles fences after two runs over hurdles and another course winner My Girl Katie should be in the mix.