A Proper Summer Jumps Afternoon

There are worse ways to spend a July Sunday than at Newton Abbot. The Devon track does summer jumping better than almost anywhere in the country — tight turns, undulating ground, and a surface that rewards handy, athletic horses rather than pure gallopers. Today the going is Good, which is about as ideal as it gets for this time of year. No jar in the ground, no false pace — just honest racing conditions that should bring out the best in the better horses across all six contests.

It's a card that mixes novice hurdles with handicap chases and hurdles, topped off by a Class 3 staying chase worth £15,000. Plenty to get stuck into. Check out the full Newton Abbot racecard before you have a penny on anything, but here's my take on where the value lies.

The Feature Race: 15:51 Sport, Education & Wellbeing Handicap Chase (Class 3, 2m 7f 180y)

This is the race of the day, no question. A £15,000 Class 3 staying chase over nearly three miles, and the ratings span from 108 to 131 — there's genuine quality at the top of this field. Statuario heads the weights on a mark of 131, and the 11-year-old is a course-and-distance veteran. You don't carry that kind of experience around Newton Abbot without knowing every inch of the place. Sean Bowen takes the ride for Mickey Bowen, and that's a partnership that knows how to get the job done. The concern with Statuario is his age — at 11, you're always wondering whether the fire still burns as bright — but on Good ground over a trip he's proven at, he has to be the one to beat.

Right behind him in the weights are Parisencore (125) and Bleu d'Enfer (125), both serious contenders. Parisencore is course-proven and Danny McMenamin is a jockey who travels well on staying chasers — he's not flashy, but he's ice-cool when it matters. Bleu d'Enfer, trained by Donald McCain, is the unknown quantity here without a course or distance flag, but an 8-year-old on 125 doesn't get there by accident. If Theo Gillard can settle him early on the Good ground, he could run a big race.

Grand Clermont (124) is another to respect. David Pipe's horses tend to arrive at Newton Abbot in good nick — the trainer knows this track inside out — and a distance winner flag makes Grand Clermont very interesting at a mark just below the top three.

Key Runners Across the Card

Holy Joe — 14:06 Novices' Hurdle

Gordon Elliott sending Holy Joe over from Ireland for a Class 4 novices' hurdle tells you something. The 6-year-old is rated 119 — comfortably the highest-rated runner in the opener — and Rian Corcoran is a jockey in excellent form. On Good ground at two and a half miles, Holy Joe's experience should count for plenty against some unrated rivals. The market will likely make him a short price, but he looks the banker of the card.

Conquer The Breeze — 14:41 Handicap Chase

The 2m handicap chase is a sharp, punchy contest and Conquer The Breeze catches the eye. Course-and-distance proven, rated 110, and Ryan Mania is a jockey who rides tight tracks with real confidence. Good ground suits a horse of his profile — he's not a heavy-ground grinder. Adam Nicol's yard has been ticking over nicely and I wouldn't be surprised to see this one go close at a decent price. Hypotenus (108) is also course-and-distance qualified and worth including in multiples.

Noble Birth — 15:16 Handicap Hurdle

Nine runners in the 2m 4f handicap hurdle and the top weight Noble Birth (120) is a course-and-distance winner. Clare Ellam's 9-year-old has done this before and Good ground is exactly what you want for a horse of his type. Charlie Maggs rides, and while he's not the most high-profile conditional, he's been quietly effective this season. Atlantic City (112) for Olly Murphy with Sean Bowen up is the obvious danger — course-and-distance proven, younger, and with a trainer who targets these summer opportunities shrewdly.

Secret Trix — 16:26 Handicap Hurdle

The 2m 7f handicap hurdle at 16:26 is a competitive little affair, and Secret Trix stands out as the one to be on. Distance winner, rated 120 alongside Ballintubber Boy at the top of the weights, and Sean Bowen in the saddle for Olly Murphy — that's a combination that wins races. The Good ground over this longer trip plays right into her hands. Murphy doesn't book Bowen unless he fancies his chances.

How the Good Ground Shapes the Card

Good ground in July at Newton Abbot is a gift. The track can get quick in summer, and when it does, you start worrying about horses jarring up on the bends. Today, that's not a concern. The surface should be consistent throughout the afternoon, which means stamina will be properly tested in the staying races — good news for proven stayers like Statuario and Secret Trix.

For the shorter trips — particularly the 2m chase at 14:41 — Good ground rewards horses with a bit of zip. Don't expect the sluggish, grinding pace you'd see on soft. These races will be run at a proper clip, and horses that want to bowl along from the front will be well-suited. Keep an eye on Ras Kassar (111) for David Pipe in that opener — top of the weights for a reason, and Pipe's runners at Newton Abbot on decent ground are always worth respecting.

Derek Fox rides Fortunes Dawn in the opener and Walk On Quest in the feature chase — he's a jockey who goes under the radar on the southern circuit but has a tidy record when he makes the trip down. Worth noting on your racecard.

Best Bets & Ones to Watch

  • Holy Joe (14:06) — Top-rated, experienced, Elliott/Corcoran combination. Looks the standout of the card.
  • Statuario (15:51) — Course-and-distance veteran, Sean Bowen up, Good ground ideal. The feature race selection.
  • Secret Trix (16:26) — Distance winner, Bowen booked, Murphy in form. Each-way at minimum.
  • Conquer The Breeze (14:41) — Course-and-distance proven, value potential in a competitive 2m chase.
  • Atlantic City (15:16) — Olly Murphy's runner to watch in the handicap hurdle. Course form is solid.

Six races, Good ground, and a card that rewards doing your homework. There's no standout banker at a big price today — the market will be efficient — but the combination of Holy Joe in the opener and Statuario in the feature makes for a solid afternoon double. As always, check the Newton Abbot racecard for any late market moves before the off. Good luck out there.