NOTHING QUITE BEATS NEWTON ABBOT

Simon Nott enjoyed his day in Devon where there were plenty of punters

- Simon Nott

Where better to be on a glorious early summer Wednesday than Newton Abbot? Nowhere that’s where, if you’ve not been before and don’t want to take my word for it, there’ll be lots of opportunities to find out for yourself.

There were plenty of bookmakers here today, which was just as well as the people had turned up too. Down in the ring, Paul of the Jack Bevan organisation was telling me that they’d enjoyed a good winning day at Monday’s Upcott Cross Point to Point meeting. There had been some turn ups for the books, which you don’t often get at point to points, so most, though not all, of the layers when home with bulging hods.

The day didn’t start well for the bookies today though, Fergal O’Brien’s Carrigeen Kampala had been backed from an overnight even money to 4/7 for the Newton Abbot Racecourse On Facebook Mares’ ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle and won in a canter under Liam Harrison.

The bookmakers were relieved that there hadn’t been any big money for the winner but did see a couple of £200 and £300 wagers, mostly at 4/5. Liam Harrison lost his claim after winning this race, number 75 for him under rules. He told Luke Harvey on Sky Sports Racing that his success was all down to Fergal O’Brien’s yard and great advice from Mick Fitzgerald and Paddy Brennan. I’m told he puts the extra hours in at Oaksey House honing his craft too so he’s worked hard for his success.