Newton Abbot Quartet

     Dindin runs at Newton Abbot Today

It was not quite meant to be for young Jack last night, his dream of African Lady winning on debut didn’t quite come off but she ran respectably and gave us something to build on.  She may even want further in distance and probably a little help from the handicapper but she is fine this morning, which is the main thing.  Walk of the Roses bounced back and ran better to be third in the mares maiden hurdle.  She didn’t jump as well as she can but I am sure she can win a similar contest going forwards. 

Today we have four runners at Newton Abbot, Sirekoff, Dindin, Myristica and Via Dante.  Sirekoff is making his stable debut after being bought at Doncaster sales last month and Jack Tudor rides.  He runs in the opening contest on the card, a maiden hurdle at 2.10pm.  He was last in action, finishing second in a maiden hurdle at Downpatrick by a neck.  The winner that day has one again since and so the form looks solid.  That was over 2m3f and today it is 2m2f, the track will be fine and he has form on all types of going.   He has a rating of 112 over hurdles and if he runs to that mark he should take all the beating in this.

Dindin runs in the 2.45pm handicap chase over 3m2f and Gearoid Harney rides.  Dindin is a 13 time career winner and he returns from an enforced break after picking up a little injury after his last run.  This will be his first run of 2024 and he is absolutely bouncing at home!  He may be 11 but he is so enthusiastic about life and he is a pleasure to have in the yard.  He is about 14/1 for today’s race, the track and ground will be fine and I think he is work an each way bet with Gearoid taking a valuable seven pounds off his back.

Myristica runs in the 3.20pm handicap hurdle over two miles and Jack Tudor rides.  She is a thoroughly likeable mare who won four times over hurdles last summer.  She has had just the one run this time around where she was disappointing but it had rained that day and the ground was too soft.  I think today’s track and ground will suit better and even though it is a competitive race I don’t think she will be too far away.

Via Dante runs in the concluding handicap hurdle on the card at 5.30pm over 3m2f and Jack Tudor rides.  He probably ran better than the bare form suggests at Uttoxeter over fences last time, when he just got tired in the last couple of furlongs.  This is the same trip today but Newton Abbot is a much sharper track so I think that will be fine.  While yet to win in his career he shows enough ability to show he can win a race and was unlucky not to win here last year when falling at the second last fence when well clear.  He is a character but he shouldn’t mind returning to the smaller obstacles and wears a first time tongue strap in this.  He might be worth a small each way bet. 

York once again takes centre stage for the flat racing today but is supported by cards at Lingfield, Newcastle and Chelsmford.  In Ireland they have flat racing at Leopardstown and a jumps card at Killarney.   The girls take centre stage for much of the day at York with the Yorkshire Oaks, the feature Group 1 at 3.35pm. 

Yesterday at York it was a terrific day for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore.  They won all three Group races with City of Troy the star performance of the day winning the Juddmonte International very impressively.  People keep trying to knock him but he broke the course record previously held by See the Stars and he really is as good as connections have been touting. 

England got off to a good start in the cricket and bowled Sri Lanka out for… The weather could play its part in today’s play.

If we remove all of the margarine on earth, the world would be a better place!

Have a good day!