A Devon Summer Special

There are few better ways to spend a Saturday afternoon in August than at Newton Abbot, and the Newton Abbot racecard on the 15th served up exactly what we've come to love about this brilliant little West Country track — proper racing, proper atmosphere, and horses that'll be talked about long after the last lorry leaves the car park.

Good ground, a sun-kissed Devon afternoon, and seven competitive races across the card. From maiden hurdlers finding their feet all the way up to a £25,000 Class 2 feature, there was something for every level of follower. Let's get into it.

The Feature Race: Scone Estates Stone of Destiny Handicap Hurdle

The headline act was always going to be the 16:05 Scone Estates Stone of Destiny Handicap Hurdle — a £25,000 Class 2 contest over the minimum trip of 2m 47y, and the race that had punters leaning on the rails from the moment the weights were published.

Eight runners, a cracking spread of ratings from 104 up to 129, and enough intrigue in the market to keep the betting ring buzzing all afternoon. At the top of the weights, The Last Cloud and Filibustering were locked together on 129 — a genuine clash of equals at the head of affairs, and exactly the kind of rivalry that makes a Saturday feature worth watching.

Brian Hughes took the ride on The Last Cloud, and when Hughes turns up for a race like this, you sit up and take notice. He's been in exceptional form all summer and his partnership with the horse carries real confidence. The Last Cloud holds course-and-distance form — that [C,D] tag is never something to ignore on a track as quirky and tight as Newton Abbot.

Filibustering, meanwhile, was the fascinating counter-argument. Paul O'Brien in the saddle, distance form banked, and a horse that travels beautifully through a race. At the same weight, there was nothing between them on paper — which meant everything would come down to the race itself.

Further down the weights, Squeezebox (119, Stan Sheppard) and Medieval Gold (117, Derek Fox — another C,D flag) offered each-way claims, while Pure Gold at the foot of the ratings on 104 was the type of lightly-weighted runner that always catches the eye in these Class 2 contests. Peter Kavanagh keeping things interesting.

Ones to Follow — The Horses That Caught the Eye

Every good Saturday card throws up a few names to scribble down for the notebook. Here are the horses from today's card that deserve a second look:

  • Try Them (13:40 Maiden Hurdle) — Top-rated in the opener on 109, trained to a point and ridden by the ever-reliable Brian Hughes. If he ran anywhere near his mark, he's the type who could go novice chasing before long. One to track through the autumn.
  • Tamarind Bay (14:15 Novices' Chase) — Joint top weight at 128 alongside Glen To Glen, but it's the course-and-distance form that makes Tamarind Bay compelling. Sean Bowen in the saddle is never a bad sign. If this one goes well, a step up in grade over fences before Christmas looks very much on the cards.
  • Lets Mingle (14:50 Handicap Hurdle) — Top weight in the Class 4 handicap hurdle, rated 112, with both course and distance form. Jack Power takes the ride. This is a horse that clearly goes well around Newton Abbot, and with a mark of 112 still looking workable, there's room to progress.
  • Dolly Dior (15:32 Malcolm Group Handicap) — Brian Hughes again — the man was everywhere today. Top weight at 105 in a Class 5 staying hurdle over 2m 7f 207y. If Dolly Dior showed anything like her best, she'll be worth following in similar staying handicaps through the backend of the year.
  • Shantou Show (16:40 Handicap Chase) — Sean Bowen on the top weight in the Class 5 chase. Rated 100, no course or distance flags to shout about, but Bowen's booking always means something. A horse to keep onside if the form works out.

Notable Jockey and Trainer Combinations

Let's talk about the elephant in the weighing room — Brian Hughes had an extraordinary book of rides today. Five races, five mounts, and all of them in competitive handicaps or feature contests. When a jockey of Hughes's calibre commits to a card like this, it tells you something about the quality of the horses beneath him. Whether he cleaned up or not, his presence alone elevated the afternoon.

Sean Bowen was another big-name presence, picking up two key rides in the novices' chase and the closing handicap chase. Bowen's association with the top yards means his mounts are rarely without a chance, and on good ground at Newton Abbot, he's always dangerous.

Keep an eye too on Derek Fox, who rode four times across the card — Medieval Gold in the feature, Button Rock in the chase, Magic Gloves in the staying hurdle, and Kinbara Firstdraft in the novices' chase. A busy Fox is often a productive Fox, and if one of those comes home in front, the trainer connections will be worth following up.

And spare a thought for Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell, who bookended the card with rides in the opening maiden hurdle aboard C'Est Pour Moi and then the bumper closer on Captain Mainwaring. The amateur and conditional jockey ranks are full of talent right now, and Jackson-Fennell is one of the names you'll be hearing a lot more of.

The Bumper and the Bigger Picture

The closing 17:15 Scone Palace International Horse Trials National Hunt Flat Race — a conditional and amateur jockeys' bumper — rounded off the card in the best possible way. Four runners, a tight little field, and the kind of race where futures are made.

Captain Mainwaring, Dark Tide Rising, Downtown Nashville, and Game Shadow were all unrated and untested, but that's half the joy of bumpers. Any one of these could be the next big thing. Game Shadow, ridden by Alex Harvey who had a decent book of rides all day, is the one I'd be watching with interest. Unraced horses on good summer ground at Newton Abbot — sometimes the simplest reads are the right ones.

Final Verdict: A Day Worth Remembering

Newton Abbot did what Newton Abbot does best on a Saturday in August — it delivered a proper, varied, atmospheric card that gave everyone something to talk about on the drive home. From maiden hurdlers stretching their legs for the first time to a £25,000 feature clash between two 129-rated rivals, the quality was there from first to last.

The horses to follow? Tamarind Bay over fences, Try Them in novice company, and keep The Last Cloud firmly in your notebook for the autumn. Brian Hughes's haul of rides tells you everything about how seriously the big yards took this card, and the ground conditions were as good as you'll get at this time of year.

Check out the full Newton Abbot racecard for all the details, and keep an eye on Newton Abbot's upcoming fixtures — because if today was anything to go by, the West Country's finest track has plenty more to offer before the season turns.

A brilliant afternoon. Roll on the next one.