A Devon Afternoon Worth Savouring

My old dad used to say that summer jumping was like a cup of tea made with slightly-too-cool water. Not quite right, he'd insist, not quite what it's supposed to be. And yet — and yet — he never once turned one down. That's the thing about Newton Abbot in July. It shouldn't work on paper. National Hunt horses, good ground baking under a Devon sky, fields that mix the promising with the battle-hardened. But somehow, every time, it delivers something worth talking about.

Thursday's six-race afternoon card was no exception. The Newton Abbot racecard offered a proper spread — two maiden and handicap hurdles, a pair of chases, and enough interesting names to keep the form students busy well into the evening. With the going riding good, conditions were fair for all, and the track's tight, turning nature meant that course experience counted for something, as it almost always does down here in Devon.

Let's get into it.

The Feature Race: Secure Air Parks Edinburgh Airport Handicap Chase

If you're picking one race from today's card to frame and put above the fireplace, it's the 15:18 — the Secure Air Parks Edinburgh Airport Parking Handicap Steeple Chase over 2m 4f 20y. Twelve thousand pounds on the table, a GBB Race tag attached, and a field of six (with Jiair Madrik a non-runner, sadly) that had genuine depth to it.

Wasdell Dundalk, handled by Danny McMenamin and rated 111, was always going to be the one everyone was watching. Course form is a big deal around Newton Abbot's tight bends, and that [C] marker next to his name is worth its weight in gold on a track like this. McMenamin has been in fine nick and knows his way around this part of the world — a combination that makes punters sit up and take notice.

But the horse that really caught the eye on paper was Gunnery Sergeant, sent off with Sean Bowen in the saddle and rated 108. Bowen is, frankly, a joy to watch round here — he reads a Newton Abbot race like he's been doing it since childhood, patient through the early stages and lethal when he asks for an effort. Gunnery Sergeant looked the type to relish the good ground, and with Bowen giving him every chance, this was always going to be a race worth watching to the line.

Moodofthemoment (Sean Quinlan, 107) carried the [D] tag — distance form — which on a stamina-sapping track matters. Quinlan is another jockey who rarely wastes a ride, and Garde des Champs (Alan Doyle, 106) with course form also deserved respect. Button Rock at 93 was the outsider of the party, but Derek Fox isn't the sort of jockey who turns up just to make up the numbers.

Ones to Follow — Horses Worth Keeping in Your Notebook

This is the section my inbox fills up about every week, and rightly so. Summer jumping is a brilliant time to spot horses on the way up, running under the radar before the big autumn campaigns begin. Here are the names I'd be scribbling down tonight.

  • Try Them (14:18, Brian Hughes, rated 111) — Top-rated in the opener and with Hughes aboard, this is a horse that looks like it has a proper campaign ahead. A maiden hurdle at this level shouldn't hold too many terrors if the ability is there, and the rating suggests it is. Watch for where he turns up next — I'd expect a step up in class fairly quickly if he does what he's capable of.
  • Liberty Coach (14:18, Harry Cobden, rated 108) — Cobden doesn't make the trip to Newton Abbot for the scenery. When one of jump racing's premier jockeys is booked for a maiden hurdle in Devon in July, there's usually a reason. Keep the name handy.
  • Sonyourastar (15:50, Sean Bowen, rated 99) — Top of the weights in the PWA Architecture Handicap Hurdle and sent off with Bowen, who clearly fancied his chances. Rated 99 in a Class 5 over 2m 4f on good ground is a solid profile. If he travels well and jumps cleanly, he could be one that steps up markedly in the weeks ahead.
  • The Flying Poet (16:25, Sean Bowen, rated 105) — Course and distance form [C,D] in a Class 5 chase over nearly 3 miles, ridden by Bowen. That's a very tidy combination. Horses with that profile at Newton Abbot often win, and if he does, don't be surprised to see connections aim a little higher come the autumn.
  • Fourofakind (15:50, Sean Quinlan, rated 97) — Course and distance experience, Quinlan in the saddle, and a rating that suggests there's a race to be won somewhere. One to note if the handicapper doesn't react too aggressively.

Jockey Watch: Bowen, Quinlan, and McMenamin Dominate

You can't review today's card without acknowledging the sheer volume of quality in the saddle. Sean Bowen had rides in four of the six races — the 15:18, 15:50, 16:25, and 17:00 — and that kind of booking tells you everything about where his stock sits right now. He's the man trainers trust when they want something done properly.

Sean Quinlan was equally busy, appearing in the opener, the 15:18, the 15:50, and the final race of the day. Quinlan is a jockey who perhaps doesn't always get the headlines he deserves, but his record on tight tracks like Newton Abbot is excellent. He's patient, tactically smart, and rarely makes a mess of the jumping.

Danny McMenamin had a full book too, with rides across five of the six races. That's a remarkable workload and a real vote of confidence from multiple yards. If you're a trainer sending a horse to Devon in the summer, McMenamin is clearly a name at the top of the call list right now.

And spare a thought for Brian Hughes — two rides, both in competitive races, and always worth following when he makes the journey south. Hughes rarely travels without purpose.

Looking Ahead — Where Do These Horses Go Next?

Summer National Hunt is all about the journey, not just the destination. The horses running at Newton Abbot in July are often building towards something — an autumn target, a step up in class, or simply the confidence of a win under their belt before the proper season kicks off.

Keep an eye on the horses that ran well today at similar tracks over the coming weeks. Exeter, Uttoxeter, and Worcester all host summer jumping cards that attract similar profiles. The progressive types from today's card — particularly those in the maiden hurdle — could easily reappear at one of those venues within a fortnight, potentially at a higher level if they've shown enough.

The chasers, particularly those with course and distance form, are worth following at tracks with similar characteristics. Newton Abbot's tight, undulating nature suits a certain type, and horses that handle it well often go on to perform at Plumpton, Fontwell, or Taunton when the autumn comes around.

Final Thoughts from the Paddock

My dad might have grumbled about summer jumping, but he'd have enjoyed today. Good ground, competitive fields, and enough quality in the saddle to make every race feel like it mattered. That's what Newton Abbot does — it takes a mid-week July afternoon and makes it feel like an occasion.

The horses to keep in your notebook are Try Them, Liberty Coach, The Flying Poet, and Sonyourastar. Bowen and Quinlan are both in the kind of form that makes their mounts worth a second look whatever the price. And if you haven't already bookmarked the Newton Abbot racecard for a proper form study tonight, now's the time.

Good ground, good racing, good company. Not a bad Thursday in Devon at all.