Newton Abbot, Saturday 4 April 2026

Newton Abbot, Saturday 4 April 2026

Good to soft ground at Newton Abbot suits a particular type, and the six-race card today has enough angles to get stuck into. The Hobbs and Johnson White yard is firing at 3/13 over the last 14 days, Dan Skelton's team looks sharp, and Harry Fry has two live chances across the card. Not a day to blindly follow the market, but there is a standout NAP if you know where to look.

2:00 — South West Rail Solutions Ltd. "National Hunt" Maiden Hurdle (2m2f, Good To Soft)

Twelve runners, a mix of point-to-point graduates and bumper horses finding their feet, and the market has pretty much got this right. But not entirely.

Hardly Surprising is the evens favourite and the rating is fair enough. JP McManus-owned, Irish point winner, three hurdle runs under his belt with placed efforts on soft ground at 2m3f. Bryan Carver keeps the ride for Harry Fry, who is operating at 3/9 over the last fortnight. The drop back to 2m2f is flagged as a potential plus in the Spotlight, and this horse has been finding his feet gradually rather than underperforming. Solid each-way at the minimum, probably shorter by post time.

The value play sits at a bigger price. Limier d'Arthel Each-Way at 9/2 (Bet365, William Hill) for Philip Hobbs and Johnson White is well worth a few pounds each-way. French bumper winner, fell at the first on stable debut in January, but what he did next is the key: travelled strongly for a long way at Exeter last month and finished a close second in a big field, despite wandering under pressure in the closing stages. That was his first proper look at hurdles, and the hood added for that run stays on. The Hobbs yard is running hot at 3/13, Callum Pritchard takes 3lbs off, and this horse clearly has more to offer. Second at Exeter on good to soft, same conditions today. He should go very close.

Dutch Corner at 5/2 (William Hill, Coral) for Dan Skelton is the other major player. Third twice against useful rivals before an unlucky-in-running second at Exeter last month: a bad mistake two out cost him any realistic chance of winning and he still finished second of fourteen. Skelton's yard is working at 8/39, perfectly respectable, and this horse's ceiling looks higher than the market suggests for a maiden. He warrants respect, though the price is skinny enough that each-way feels the right approach rather than win only.

Selection: Limier d'Arthel each-way at 9/2. Each-way terms: 3 places at 1/5 odds.

3:49 — Happy 45th Birthday Andy Hurtley Handicap Chase (2m5f, Good To Soft)

The feature race on the card and a proper competitive handicap with eight runners. Several have live chances, but two horses stand out above the rest.

Calimystic at 9/4 (Bet365, Coral) is the Nicky Henderson-trained 7yo ridden by Nico de Boinville, and the profile is that of a horse with a ceiling nobody has yet found. Two chase wins from two completed starts this winter: Newbury and Sandown, on good and soft respectively. He goes up 6lb here but the Spotlight is glowing about how strongly he travelled at Newbury, and this drop back in trip from 3m could actually suit. Henderson is operating at 3/12 over the last 14 days, de Boinville retains the ride, and the 9/4 is fair without being generous. Likely to start shorter. Solid win bet.

At much bigger odds, Scarface Each-Way at 8/1 (Bet365) is the each-way bet of the race. Four-time chase winner, and critically, he won this exact race last year off a mark just 2lbs lower. He bounced back to form with a fair third in a Class 2 handicap at Newbury over 2m4f two weeks ago, good to soft, which is today's going. Joe Tizzard's yard is ticking along at 3/26, Freddie Gingell takes the ride, and a horse who won here 12 months ago and just showed decent form at Newbury deserves serious each-way consideration at 8s. Course form is course form.

Kap Ouest at 7/2 (William Hill, Coral, Betfred) also commands respect. Harry Fry's 7yo won easily at Exeter on good to soft last month and the Spotlight credits it as a clear personal best. Yes, he's up 9lb, which is steep, but horses who win easily and are improving as chasers can often absorb a rise. Worth including in combinations.

Selection: Scarface each-way at 8/1 Bet365. Single win: Calimystic at 9/4. Each-way terms on Scarface: 3 places at 1/5 odds.

4:20 — South West Rail Solutions Ltd. Handicap Hurdle (3m2f, Good To Soft)

Eight declared, one non-runner (Kruger Park), so seven go to post. With a two-place each-way market and 1/4 odds, the terms are less generous, but there is a clear angle here.

Crossgales King at 9/4 (William Hill) for Syd Hosie is the horse to be on. Off the mark at the sixth attempt over hurdles when winning a Wincanton handicap at 3m1f on good to soft last month, justifying favouritism in the process. He stays on strongly, he has proven form on today's going, and the step up to 3m2f looks tailor-made given how he found more and more late at Wincanton. Up 5lb, but improving horses absorb penalties. Hosie's yard is operating at 3/16 over 14 days. Callum Pritchard claims 3lbs, reducing the burden further. This horse is going the right way and today's conditions suit.

Call Me Legend at 5/2 (Bet365, William Hill, Coral) is the market leader and has solid claims. Form figures of 431122 in handicaps, near-miss at Exeter 13 days ago, versatile ground-wise and open to more progress. Philip Hobbs and Johnson White at 3/13, amateur Mr Jack Stenhouse takes 7lbs off. That weight allowance is crucial and could well see this horse go very close. The two are close in the betting and close on merit. If forced to split them, Crossgales King gets the nod on the basis of how strongly he stayed at Wincanton and the longer trip suiting.

Walk Tall at 5/1 (Bet365, William Hill, Coral) for Joe Tizzard could be underestimated. Irish point winner, kept on well for a 12-length second at Hereford in February, and the Spotlight explicitly says to watch in the market on this step up to 3m2f. Lorcan Williams takes the ride. Worth a small each-way interest.

Selection: Crossgales King at 9/4 William Hill.

Today's NAP