Race Report - Friday 18th September - Summer Jumps Championship Finale
By David Hucker
Dan and Harry Skelton took the top trainer and jockey titles in the Sun Racing Summer Jumps Championship that drew to a close at Newton Abbot on Friday and added a double on the afternoon with Depalma and Service Minimum as they continue their relentless quest for winners.
Skelton has chosen Depalma from his two entries in the opening Edmundson Electrical Cabletec Plymouth Maiden Hurdle over two miles, five and a half furlongs and he went off the 6/5 favourite just ahead of the Irish-trained Penzance who, after drifting out to 5/2, was backed into 6/4 late on. Runner-up to Limerick Leader over fences on his stable debut, Depalma broke his duck under Rules at the 12th attempt, regaining the lead after being passed by Devon Red in the straight.
Service Minimum, the choice from four entries by Skelton, bounced back from a disappointing run last time to land the £15,000 Colin Willcocks Memorial Handicap Hurdle from Fontwell Park scorer Kom Tu Voudras. Leading at the second-last flight, Service Minimum flew the final hurdle and was always holding the runner-up, coming home 2½ lengths clear to bring up his trainer's 86th winner of the season.
There was close betting in the Southlands Care Home Mares' Novices' Hurdle with Babs, who had come good at the third time of asking over hurdles with a nine-length win at Worcester, just edging favouritism ahead of the Skelton-trained dual winner Fine Thing. Punters called it right as Babs and Kielan Woods led at the last flight and, in a thrilling finish, just held the challenge of Yeld To Call by a short head with Little Lady Rock the same distance away in third.
The market for the £15,000 Devondale Novices' Limited Handicap Chase was headed by top-weight Intosomethinggood, a four-time winner over hurdles and making his chasing debut. Thickthorn Tom had beaten It's A Breeze over the course last month and, even with the weights favouring the runner-up, came out on top again, but he couldn't match Intosomethinggood who led at the penultimate fence and ran on strongly to win by 1½ lengths.
Worcester winner Broadway Honey was a clear favourite to take the Bayside Signs & Display Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles and bring up a stable double for Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies. Second best was Flashy Boy, a 12-length winner on his last visit to the course, but the race went to 17/2 shot Testflight, trained near Exeter by Sue Gardner.
Testflight had beaten course specialist My Girl Katie 14 months ago, but had failed to score in eight races since. He was back to a handicap mark of 74 and, with Ciaran O'Shea reducing his weight by 3lbs, just prevailed over Flashy Boy, who was untidy at the final fence, by ½ length with Broadway Honey in third.
Mr McWhinny, a winner at the last meeting, struck again in the Tony McCarthy Handicap Chase to win his second race of the week with some ease before Farhh Echo beat Raffles Nobu to take the closing Sun Racing Summer Jumps Championship Finale Handicap Hurdle. Raffles Nobu earned his trainer Nick Scholfield ten points to take him above David Pipe and win the Summer Small Trainer prize.