Newton Abbot Racecourse welcomes runners, trainers and racing enthusiasts for an action-packed six-race National Hunt meeting on Monday, July 13. The Devon venue, renowned as one of Britain’s leading summer jumping racecourses, presents a programme that combines maiden hurdles, handicap hurdles, competitive steeple chases and a concluding National Hunt Flat contest. With more than £56,000 in prize money available across the afternoon, the fixture is expected to provide exciting competition from the opening race through to the finale.
Newton Abbot racecards 13 july
Beginning at 2:42 pm and concluding at 5:12 pm, the card offers races over distances ranging from just over two miles to more than three miles. Horses at different stages of their jumping careers will be on show, from promising newcomers making their hurdle debut to experienced chasers competing for valuable handicap honours.
The meeting opens at 2:42 pm with The Sun Racing The Home of Racing Maiden Hurdle Race (Class 4) over 2 miles, 2 furlongs and 152 yards. Open to horses aged four years and older, the £10,000 GBB-supported contest provides an ideal platform for emerging jumpers to begin their careers over hurdles. Maiden events regularly feature horses that later develop into successful performers during the National Hunt season, making this an informative start to the afternoon.
At 3:12 pm, attention shifts to The Racing To School Reaches 250,000 Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 4) over 2 miles and 92 yards. Carrying prize money of £11,000 and restricted to horses rated up to 110, the race places a premium on accurate jumping and tactical speed. Newton Abbot’s sharp circuit rewards horses capable of maintaining rhythm while producing fluent leaps throughout the contest.
The third race at 3:42 pm is The Racing Club Handicap Hurdle Race (Class 5) over 2 miles, 2 furlongs and 152 yards. Worth £8,500, the contest is open to horses rated up to 100 and is expected to feature evenly matched runners seeking to improve their handicap marks. Strong finishing efforts and consistent jumping are often the deciding factors in races of this nature.
The afternoon continues at 4:12 pm with The Par Inn Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 4) over 2 miles, 5 furlongs and 19 yards. Another £11,000 GBB Race, this event presents a greater stamina challenge while still demanding accurate jumping. The intermediate distance frequently rewards horses capable of travelling comfortably before producing a sustained finish in the closing stages.
The feature event arrives at 4:42 pm with The William Hill Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 4) over 3 miles, 1 furlong and 198 yards. Open to horses aged five years and older and carrying £11,000 in prize money, the staying contest has attracted a competitive field of ten experienced chasers.
Leading the weights is King Turgeon, trained by David Pipe, who carries a BHA rating of 119 after producing consistent recent performances. Regarde, representing Jamie Snowden, arrives with a rating of 122 and brings valuable staying experience to the contest.
Veteran Presentandcounting, from the Donald McCain stable, adds further quality to the field, while Muskerry Rock, trained by Dan Skelton, comes into the race following a sequence of encouraging efforts that suggest continued progress over fences.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls is represented by Byzantium, a course winner capable of performing well in competitive staying handicaps, while Belgarum, trained by Joe Tizzard, has previous winning form at Newton Abbot and will be aiming to make full use of that course experience.
The line-up is strengthened further by Balkardy, Limerick Leader, I Am The Moon, and Slaney Opera. Limerick Leader, trained by Nick Scholfield, has demonstrated consistent form in recent starts and already boasts winning experience at the course. I Am The Moon, representing the Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies stable, is the sole mare in the field, while stablemate Slaney Opera, also trained by Nick Scholfield, completes an evenly matched contest where stamina, jumping accuracy and race positioning are expected to prove decisive over the extended three-mile trip.
The meeting concludes at 5:12 pm with The Savanna Stevens Open National Hunt Flat Race (Class 4) over 2 miles and 203 yards. Open to four and five-year-olds, the £5,000 Category 2 Elimination contest provides young National Hunt prospects with valuable racecourse experience before embarking on hurdling careers. These races often introduce horses that go on to become successful jumpers in future seasons.
Newton Abbot continues to play an important role in Britain’s summer jumps programme. Its left-handed circuit, undulating layout and emphasis on fluent jumping provide a fair yet demanding examination for horses across all race types. The inclusion of several GBB-supported races further underlines the racecourse’s contribution to encouraging the development of British-bred jump horses.
Monday’s six-race programme offers an excellent balance of opportunity for emerging talent and experienced campaigners alike. From the opening maiden hurdle through competitive handicap contests to the feature staying chase and concluding bumper, spectators can look forward to a varied afternoon showcasing every aspect of National Hunt racing. With established trainers represented throughout the card and several proven performers lining up in the feature event, Newton Abbot is set for another memorable day of summer jumping action.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to Racebuzz.