LAST MEETING REVIEW |TUESDAY 31ST AUGUST 2021
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The second fixture of the month certainly proved to be an interesting contest, as spectators gathered to enjoy an intriguing afternoon of National Hunt racing. The Nigel Hawke trained Diligent continued to prove consistent in the Steve Chapman Memorial Novices’ Hurdle, easily finishing 21 lengths ahead of three other runners in the race with Kieren Buckley on board. The pair continued their winning ways from racing here on August 21st, finishing an impressive 27 lengths ahead of Take Em Out. The second race of the meeting saw another with four runners coming to post. Joint Favourite Joey Steel came out on top with Nick Schofield on board, for his first of two victories of the day. It was the horse’s debut run at Newton Abbot and he finished a comfortable length and a half in front of the other Joint Favourite, Fact of the Matter. Joey Steel came here in excellent form, having finished first once and second twice during meetings in May and June, following a 93-day break from the end of the last jumps season. Schofield has been on board on all
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four occasions, and the horse has made a marked improvement since this change. She could be one to follow going forward for her leading trainer with more to come over fences based on her previous hurdles form.
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The Class 4 40th Anniversary Mares Novices Hurdle saw the Mel Rowley trained Ginger Du Val run a comfortable race to finish two and three-quarter lengths in front of the Evens Favourite She’s A Novelty, trained by Fergal O’Brien- a reversal of placings from when the two met at Bangor in August earlier in the year. The five-yearold has had a good start to the season, since changing trainers from Nigel Twiston-Davies
