Race Report - Friday 3rd July
From David Hucker
Leading trainer Dan Skelton sent five horses from his Warwickshire stable to Newton Abbot as he bids to set a new training record this season, but had just one winner to show for his efforts on an afternoon that saw the battle between bookmakers and punters end with honours even.
Likewhatyousee, the choice from two entries for trainers Jonjo & AJ O'Neill, was a pretty warm favourite to build on her debut run behind Lady Kara here last month in the opening Sky Sports Racing Mares' Maiden Hurdle. A winner over a mile and a half on heavy ground at the Curragh last year, faster ground didn't seem to inconvenience her last time and she was sent off the 5/4 favourite to beat her rivals including the more experienced Elated.
Punters got it spot on as they finished in market order with Likewhatyousee, never out of the first two, leading into the home straight and going 10 lengths clear of Elated, with the Skelton-trained Getmyfriend back in third.
Skelton did not have a runner in the Sun Racing Free Tickets With Sun Club Novices' Handicap Hurdle in which Huntingdon winner Kittys Glance, trained by Alan King, headed the market at 13/8. She had been placed in both her races this season, but had to give a lot of weight to her rivals, including bottom-weight Saucats, beaten 26 lengths by Warfleet over the course last month.
Saucats, ridden by Callum Pritchard, stepped up on that performance to come out on top, taking advantage of the 26lb weight concession from Kittys Glance to always hold the favourite at bay over the last two flights, winning by 3¾ lengths for Tiverton trainer Joe Tickle.
Skelton's Miss Kassiopi had been raised 3lbs for finishing runner-up on her stable debut at Hexham last time, but she was still the one that punters wanted to be on in the St. Austell Brewery Mares' Handicap Hurdle. She was returned the 8/15 favourite, but there was also support for point-to-point winner Ghost Jury, in at the deep end when taking on multiple winner Beorma on her seasonal debut, who shortened from 11/2 to 4/1.
Favourite backers collected again as Miss Kassiopi and Harry Skelton led over the second-last flight to win comfortably with Ghost Jury pipping top-weight Northern Symphonie for second spot.
Gore Point, making a quick re-appearance after winning over fences for the first time at Stratford on Monday, replaced Krak, making his debut for the Skelton stable, at the head of the betting in the Class 3 Howden Insurance Handicap Chase. Punters got it right again as Gore Point, trained by Anthony Honeyball, proved too good for Schmilsson over the last two fences, winning with a bit in hand, with Krak a disappointing last of the four.
A course winner in May, Arctic Voyage was subsequently beaten a long way when runner-up to Morning Mayhem last month, but he bounced back to winning ways in the Class 3 Gordon Rowe Memorial Handicap Hurdle, beating favourite Continuance. There were four in a line at the penultimate flight, but Arctic Voyage and Harry Reed asserted before the last to put 3¼ lengths between themselves and Continuance, who was a nose in front of Emerald Time.
There was a shock result to the closing William Hill Handicap Chase over three miles when, after favourite Radharc Na Slaine had unseated Sean Bowen at the second fence, 25/1 shot He Is A Cracker was brought from last to first by Isabelle Ryder to beat Great d'Ange, with Longhouse Star, who didn't have much room on the run-in, back in third.