Racing
Newton Abbot Place 6 preview | 17th July
14.15 – Visit attheraces.com Maiden Hurdle – 2m2f
FILM D’ACTION showed a bit of promise on debut in a bumper when eighth and although his hurdles debut was a disappointment, he fared much better when third at Ffos Las. If he can take another step forward here, he has a chance of winning this contest. FORTUNATE FRED sets the standard though, who was beaten a nose here last July and wouldn’t need to improve to have a say in the outcome.
Tips: Film D’action, Fortunate Fred
14.50 – Watch Sky Sports Racing On Sky 415 Handicap Chase – 2m
HERONORD has yet to win a race of any kind but he has placed several times and finished second twice at this course last year in a pair of class three events. The six-year-old has a good chance of breaking his duck, while TIKKINTHEBOX has a good record here and his two wins at this course were off 115 and 122. Down to a career-low mark of 95 now, Jeremy Scott’s 11-year-old must be feared with lots in his favour.
Tips: Heronord, Tikkinthebox
15.25 – Fiddy Thornes Birthday Handicap Hurdle – 2m5f
ERITAGE was formerly useful when trained by Paul Nicholls, rated as high as 142, and despite struggling to make an impact for this stable last season, his latest return third over hurdles, in a stronger race, was encouraging and he could prove hard to beat if able to back that up here. Coincidentally, his last two wins have come at this course, albeit over fences, but they were off marks of 135 and 137. The nine-year-old is sitting on a career-low mark of 125 at present plus the excellent Beau Morgan can claim a further five pounds. If he is able to build on his reappearance, he certainly has the class to defy top-weight.
SAN GIOVANNI won his first two starts last summer, including over this course-and-distance last July, and has undergone wind surgery since finishing down the field at Worcester. He would have gone close without being hampered before running out here last April and retains potential with more to come. He could be hard to beat if granted an uncontested lead.
Tips: Eritage, San Giovanni
16.00 – newtonabbotracing.com Handicap Hurdle – 2m
CLEARANCE has two wins to his name at this course and cashed-in on a reduced mark when scoring over course-and-distance two weeks ago. The nine-year-old is back up another four pounds but Harry Cobden is booked to ride and his mount could follow-up should he repeat that latest success.
JUST THE MAN was beaten a nose in this grade three starts back in May and travelled with plenty of zest en route to finishing a solid third at this course last time. The seven-year-old is seven pounds below his last winning mark and will appreciate the ease in grade. If he can produce something close to his best in this contest, he should have the class to go close to winning this given he’s a well-handicapped horse.
Tips: Clearance, Just The Man
16.35 – Play Cornhole At The Par Inn Handicap Chase – 2m4f
HONEY I’M GOOD made a successful hunter chase debut at Chepstow and was then purchased by Evan Williams. She never figured on his stable debut last month but goes into a handicap on dangerous mark reverting back to the bigger obstacles and she gets a lot of weight from the rest of the field. This lightly-raced mare has excellent claims.
ROMANOR is a multiple winner at this course and the latest of his three wins here came off a two pounds higher mark. He shaped very well in defeat at Stratford last-time-out in a much deeper race and is eligible to compete in this event from an unchanged mark. Despite his big weight, the nine-year-old could be set to add a fourth course win to his name given his last two wins here were against better opponents.
Tips: Honey I’m Good, Romanor
17.10 – Talk Tidy Marketing Mares’ Open NH Flat Race – 2m
In the bumper, I’ll take a chance on debutant SHAKIYRA, who is Fergal O’Brien’s only runner on the card and Paddy Brennan’s only ride on the card. She’s related to plenty of smart winners, including Call Me Tara, and wouldn’t need to be above-average to make a winning debut in this weak-looking contest.
Tips: Shakiyra
