A Summer's Day in Devon — Don't Let the Sunshine Fool You

Good ground at Newton Abbot on a Thursday afternoon in July — now there's a sentence that'd make a hardened jump racing man sit up straight. While the flat brigade are busy sweating over draw biases and silky turf, we're out here in Devon doing it the proper way, with fences, flights, and a few quid on the line. Six races, Good going, and some genuinely interesting angles to unpick. Pull up a stool and let's get into it.

The ground is the first thing worth noting. Good in July at Newton Abbot is as good as it gets for a summer jumps card — not too quick to punish the less nimble, not so soft that it turns into a slog. It's a fair test, and on a track as tight and turning as Newton Abbot, it puts a premium on horses that are handy, jump slick, and don't need soft ground to put their best foot forward. Stamina merchants on the bridle, not heavy-ground plodders. Keep that in mind throughout. Check out the full Newton Abbot racecard for all the details.

The Feature Race: 15:18 Handicap Chase — Elliott's Sergeant Could Cause Havoc

With £12,000 on offer, the Secure Air Parks Edinburgh Airport Parking Handicap Chase over 2m 4f is the day's feature, and it's a cracker. Seven runners, a mix of seasoned veterans and younger chasers, and the Good ground should sort them out nicely.

The one I keep coming back to is Gunnery Sergeant (Gordon Elliott, Sean Bowen). A 6-year-old rated 108, he's at the right end of his career trajectory — still improving, still relatively unexposed over fences, and Gordon Elliott doesn't send horses on long trips from Ireland without a reason. Sean Bowen is absolutely flying at the moment, and if this horse jumps with any fluency on Good ground, he'll be very hard to peg back around a sharp track like this.

Wasdell Dundalk (Lisa Harrison, Danny McMenamin) is the old warrior of the piece at 11 years old and rated 111 — he's a course winner, which counts for plenty at Newton Abbot, and McMenamin knows how to ride a front-runner around a tight track. But at his age, on Good ground in July, I'd want to see him do it before I back him at a short price. He might be there to be shot at.

Moodofthemoment has the course and distance form, and Sean Quinlan is a fine jockey, but David Thompson's yard isn't exactly setting the world alight. I'll leave him for others.

The Opener: Maiden Hurdle — Try Them Looks the Classiest, But Watch Cobden

The 14:18 Maiden Hurdle opens proceedings and it's a decent little puzzle. Try Them (Patrick Neville, Brian Hughes) tops the ratings at 111 and has to be respected — but Patrick Neville is a relatively unknown quantity and I'd like to know more about this horse's recent prep before diving in head-first.

The one that catches my eye is Liberty Coach (John & Sean Quinn, Harry Cobden). Rated 108, 5 years old, and ridden by Harry Cobden — a man who could make a carthorse look like a Cheltenham winner. The Quinn yard have been quietly solid, and Cobden on a horse with ability on Good ground at a track that rewards jumping accuracy? That's a combination I'll take seriously.

Bogha Baiste (Lizzie Quinlan, Sean Quinlan) is interesting too — a yard that's been punching above its weight and Sean Quinlan is one of the most underrated big-race jockeys in the north. The name means 'Rainbow' in Irish, and maybe there's a pot of gold at the end of this one. Worth each-way consideration at least.

Gordon Elliott's Clanokre Lass is unrated but Elliott doesn't send 4-year-olds to Devon for the fresh air. One to keep onside if the market talks.

The Handicap Hurdles: Bowen's Afternoon Could Be a Long One (In the Best Way)

Sean Bowen has four rides across the afternoon card, and on a track he knows well, that's the kind of statistic that makes your ears prick up. Let's look at his key chances.

In the 15:50 PWA Architecture Handicap Hurdle, Sonyourastar (Olly Murphy) is the top-rated at 99 and Murphy's yard has been in good nick. Good ground suits a Murphy horse — they tend to be well-schooled and athletic rather than relying on cut. This looks a winnable race for Bowen and Murphy, and at 2m 4f, there's enough of a test to find out who's genuine.

In the 16:25 Handicap Chase over nearly 3 miles, Bowen partners The Flying Poet (Olly Murphy), a 7-year-old rated 105 with course and distance form. A course-and-distance winner in a Class 5 chase — that's your banker of the day written in neon lights, lads. Good ground, a track he knows, a trainer in form, and the best jockey on the card. I'd be very surprised if The Flying Poet doesn't take all the beating here.

In the 17:00 closer, Bowen rides Loro White (Olly Murphy) — a 5-year-old with course form, rated 85 in a wide-open Class 5 hurdle. Murphy and Bowen again. At this point you have to ask yourself whether the Olly Murphy team have made a special trip down here with intent, and I think the answer is yes.

Callum Bewley rides Luckie Devil in the opener for Nicky Richards — unrated, which usually means either unexposed talent or a horse that hasn't troubled the judge yet. Richards is a canny operator and wouldn't run one this far south without cause. Watch the market.

Meanwhile, Patrick Wadge takes the ride on Scriabin for the Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore partnership in the opener — rated 105 and another northern raider worth a second look. The Russell/Scudamore combination also saddle runners throughout the card, suggesting a well-organised raid on the Devon prize money.

Best Bets & Ones to Watch

  • BEST BET: The Flying Poet (16:25) — Course and distance winner, Olly Murphy in form, Sean Bowen up, Good ground. Ticks every box. This is the one.
  • EACH-WAY: Gunnery Sergeant (15:18) — Gordon Elliott raider, improving 6-year-old, Sean Bowen. Could easily win the feature chase.
  • EACH-WAY: Liberty Coach (14:18) — Harry Cobden is the difference-maker here. Respect the rating and the jockey booking.
  • SAVER: Loro White (17:00) — Murphy and Bowen again in the closer. Course form, fresh legs, and a yard that clearly fancies their chances today.
  • ONE TO WATCH: Clanokre Lass (14:18) — Unrated Elliott 4-year-old. If the market moves, follow it.

All in all, it's a fine summer's afternoon of jump racing in Devon, and the Good ground means we'll get a proper test and proper results. The Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen combination looks like the team of the day, and if The Flying Poet obliges in that 16:25 chase, you'll want to be on the right side of it. Get the full card, do your homework, and enjoy the racing. As we say back home — ná bí ag caint, bí ag imirt. Stop talking and start playing. Good luck to all.