Setting the Scene: Why This Race Matters

Now, I know what some of you are thinking — Newton Abbot in late September, a Wednesday afternoon, sure who's paying attention? Well, you should be, because the Paul Ferguson's Jumpers To Follow David Whitaker Handicap Steeple Chase is precisely the kind of race that separates the sharp punters from the Sunday dabblers. A Class 2 contest worth £25,000 over 2 miles 7 furlongs and 180 yards, run on ground described as Good, Good to Soft in places and specifically aimed to replicate the conditions of the April Perth Festival — that's a proper jumps test, and it'll find out a few of these lads before the season really gets its boots on.

This is a GBB Race too, which means connections are chasing that bonuses pot, and you'd better believe that sharpens trainer intent considerably. Nine declared, ratings spread from 149 down to 123, and a cast of characters that includes some serious staying chasers. Pull up a stool, we're going in.

You can find the full Newton Abbot racecard over on the site.

Contender-by-Contender Breakdown

The Real Whacker (10yo, 12-0, Rating 149)

The old boy at the top of the weights, and he's carrying that 12-0 like a man asked to move a wardrobe up three flights of stairs. Ten years of age, rated 149, and a proven distance winner — Brian Hughes takes the ride for Patrick Neville's yard. The tongue tie and blinkers combination tells you they need him switched on and focused, and at his best he absolutely is. The concern here is the weight. Twelve stone over nearly three miles on ground that'll be testing enough — that's a serious ask for a horse on the wrong side of a decade. He's the class act in the field on ratings, but class and handicap marks don't always make comfortable bedfellows when the mud starts flying. I wouldn't be writing him off, but I'm not rushing to back him at what'll likely be a short price either.

King of Answers (7yo, 11-8, Rating 143)

Now here's one that genuinely interests me. Seven years old, still improving age, rated 143 and a proven distance winner — this is the profile you want in a staying handicap chase. Derek Fox takes the ride, trained by the formidable Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore partnership, who also saddle Walk On Quest in this field. When a yard runs two, you always ask yourself which one they fancy, but Fox on the higher-rated runner is a decent enough clue. The Perth connection is interesting too — Russell knows Scottish festival ground intimately, and if this going is replicating Perth in April, you'd imagine her horses will be well tuned to it. King of Answers is my idea of the most likely winner.

Etalon (9yo, 11-8, Rating 143)

Dan Skelton sends this nine-year-old down to the West Country with Harry Skelton in the saddle, and that combination alone demands respect. Etalon is a course winner at Newton Abbot — that's not a trivial thing at this track, which has its own quirks and demands a horse that travels well around a bend. The tongue tie is on, rating of 143 matched with King of Answers, but he's carrying the same weight. Dan Skelton doesn't send horses on long hauls to Devon for the scenery — there's intent here. The question is whether nine years of age and a testing trip suits him at this point of the season. He's a genuine each-way shout on course form alone.

Tamarind Bay (6yo, 11-2, Rating 137)

The youngest of the leading contenders at six, trained by Mickey Bowen with James Bowen in the plate — a family affair, and the Bowens know how to place a horse. Rated 137 and a distance winner, this lad has the profile of a chaser still on the way up. Six-year-olds can be raw and green, but they can also be frighteningly good value in handicaps where they're still learning their trade. If Tamarind Bay is improving — and at six, you'd expect he is — then 11-2 looks a very workable weight. The Bowen family have had some cracking results when they've targeted a race like this. One to keep very much onside.

Boston Rover (7yo, 10-12, Rating 133)

Gordon Elliott sends over Boston Rover with Sean Bowen on board, and when the master of Cullentra House targets a race on the English side of the water, you sit up and take notice. No form flags to shout about on distance or course, but Elliott horses tend to arrive fit and ready, and 10-12 is a very manageable weight. Sean Bowen is a top-class jockey who'll make the most of any opportunity. At a generous price, Boston Rover could be the Gordon Elliott special that sneaks in under the radar.

The Going and Its Impact

The ground is described as Good, Good to Soft in places, deliberately set to mirror the Perth Festival in April. That's a crucial detail. Perth in spring tends to be a fair, honest surface — not a bog, not a rattler, but something that rewards genuine stayers who get into a rhythm. Over 2m7f, you want a horse that stays stays, not one that flukes a trip on fast ground.

Horses with stamina pedigrees and proven form at this distance are at a premium here. The Real Whacker, King of Answers and Tamarind Bay all carry that distance winner flag, and on ground like this, that's the first filter I apply. The Newton Abbot track itself is a right-handed oval with plenty of turns — it's not a galloping track, so horses that jump fluently and conserve energy through the bends will have a natural advantage over those that need long straights to wind up.

Value Picks and Dangers

Let me be straight with you — The Real Whacker at the top of the weights is the one I'm most cautious about. Yes, he's the highest-rated horse in the field, but 12-0 over this trip on this ground for a ten-year-old is a mountain. If the market shortens him up significantly, leave him alone.

My value pick is Tamarind Bay. Six years old, distance winner, a Bowen in the saddle, and still with improvement in the locker. If he's available at double-figures, I'm having a small each-way interest without hesitation.

The danger I'd flag is Etalon. Course winner, Skelton on top, trained by one of the sharpest operators in the game. If he's right at the top of his form, he could make this look straightforward.

  • King of Answers — Nap selection, distance winner, right age, right jockey
  • Tamarind Bay — Each-way value, improving profile, Bowen booking
  • Etalon — Danger, course form is a real asset at Newton Abbot
  • Boston Rover — Elliott wildcard, respect at a big price

Tom's Verdict: The Selection

Right, here's where I put my neck on the block. King of Answers is my selection for the Paul Ferguson's David Whitaker Handicap Chase. Seven years old, proven over the distance, Derek Fox in the saddle, and trained by a yard that knows exactly what Perth-style ground means. The Russell-Scudamore operation doesn't fire bullets without loading the gun first, and running their higher-rated horse with their senior jockey tells me this is the one they fancy.

Etalon is the main danger — course form is real and Harry Skelton won't give him an inch — but I'll take King of Answers to get the job done. Tamarind Bay each-way for the value merchants among you, and keep a wary eye on what price Boston Rover drifts to. Elliott horses at big prices in Class 2 chases have a habit of turning up.

Whatever you're having yourself — good luck, and enjoy the racing. Full details on the Newton Abbot racecard.

Who is the Favourite for the Paul Ferguson's David Whitaker Handicap Chase 2026?

Based on ratings, The Real Whacker (149) is the highest-rated runner in the field and is likely to attract market support as the morning favourite. However, the weight burden of 12-0 over nearly three miles on testing ground gives plenty of reason for pause. King of Answers and Etalon, both rated 143, are expected to be well-backed and could easily head the market once bookmakers assess the race properly. Tom's tip is King of Answers — value at any price above 3/1.

Is Newton Abbot a Good Track for Staying Chasers?

Newton Abbot is a right-handed, fairly tight oval track in Devon that suits nimble, fluent jumpers over staying trips. It's not a wide-open galloping track — horses that relax well through the bends and jump economically tend to have a significant advantage. At 2m7f, the emphasis is firmly on stamina and jumping accuracy rather than raw pace. Proven course form, as Etalon possesses, is a genuine asset here and should not be underestimated.

What Does the GBB Race Status Mean for This Handicap Chase?

GBB stands for the Great British Bonus scheme, which offers additional prize money to horses that are British-bred and win qualifying races. For connections, it adds a financial incentive on top of the £25,000 prize fund, which means trainers are more likely to target this race specifically and arrive with their horses in peak condition. It's a detail that sharpens trainer intent — when there's a bonus on the table, you don't send a horse just to make up the numbers. Expect the field to be well-prepared and competitive throughout.