3.10pm Newton Abbot Tips & Betting Preview 05/06/2017

A field of eight go to post for the third race of the day at Newton Abbot, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: After winning on handicap debut back in October, WISHFULL DREAMING ran a great race on his penultimate start to finish second at Exeter in April before an underwhelming effort when last seen at Ludlow. Perhaps leading didn’t suit him that day and the step up in trip should suit this time around with Richard Johnson taking the ride. He can take a forth career success for Philip Hobbs whose yard is flying at present, with Rossetti the likely main danger after winning last time out.

1 ROSSETTI – Has won four times for Neil Mulholland including on his latest start at Warwick when returning to form and as a result he’s been raised 3lb for that narrow success. He should be more than capable of over coming the penalty if taking another step forward, though his two pulled up efforts before that victory do make him risky and not straight forward.

2 MAGIE DU MA – Two time winner over hurdles when in France but she has been well beaten on both her British starts for David Pipe, though both those runs were in much better company than this. She was midfield in the Triumph Hurdle at the Festival before a forth at Warwick in a competitive looking race 67 days ago. More is needed regardless but she is a very interesting contender and a market check is advised.

3 GOLDEN BIRTHDAY – Two wins from seven hurdling runs, taking his second victory in this discipline when winning at Warwick three weeks ago in good style despite hanging badly in the closing stages. As a result he’s been raised 6lb but he remains with potential in this sphere and a slight step back in trip should suit this six year old. Conditions are to suit and Niall Madden takes the ride, so he should be in the shake up.

4 TEA IN TRANSVAAL – Won five times in 2015 and she has been very lightly raced since for Evan Williams, with only three runs in 2016 for the yard. She was last seen in October where she finished a well beaten twelfth in a handicap at Chepstow, albeit that race was a Grade 3 and this is much easier. Now on a mark of 127 which is very handy on the best of her form and with the yard and jockey in such good form, she has to be considered for place purposes, though she’s risky and a market check is advised.

5 WISHFULL DREAMING – Six year old for Philip Hobbs who won on handicap debut at Chepstow back in October, running well in the main since then. He was mugged late on at Exeter on his penultimate start before finishing last of four at Ludlow when last seen, but he wasn’t beaten far and leading clearly didn’t help him off top weight. He’s now down a pound and the slight raise in distance should suit him, with Richard Johnson retaining the ride. Hobbs has had seven winners from his last thirteen runners and with his string in such brilliant nick, this should be hurdling win number three for this son of Alflora.

6 ASHOKA – Returned to form for Dan Skelton in April when winning twice in that month, taking the second of those in comfortable style at Exeter three days after the first victory. On to his new 11lb higher mark, he was only able to finish third at Warwick last month and this is tougher, though the step back up in trip should suit. Harry Skelton takes the ride and he may just be vulnerable until he takes a slip down the weights.

7 LIMITED RESERVE – Won three starts ago on his final run for Paul Morgan at Ffos Las, making his stable debut for Christian Williams at Haydock on his penultimate start to finish second in a valuable handicap despite losing a shoe. Raised 4lb, he was well beaten on his latest start at Sandown which does give him something to prove, though this race is much easier on balance. In form jockey Tom O’Brien takes the ride and he has a very good chance if back to form.

8 CLENI WELLS – Has been running consistently well of late with form figures of 2132, only beaten by a very strong finisher over C&D last Tuesday. He runs off the same mark today with Charlie Deutsch taking off 3lb, so if this short break between races isn’t an issue then he should have place claims for Martin Hill. He has run with a ten day break in the past with no issue which does give hope for that and conditions are the same, so he needs to be considered.