16:30 Newton Abbot

Leg 1 Selections: Cadeau Dor, Sydney Blues 

CADEAU D’OR was easily the best of these on the Flat and has been found a good opportunity to put his experience to good use. The five-year-old has run well on both visits here and has leading claims back in this maiden event. I think he’ll win this. SYDNEY BLUES improved from his hurdles debut to finish third ten days ago and may have finished second without being bumped before the second last. I’ll be quite surprised if one of these two can’t make the frame at the very least in the opener. 

17:05 Newton Abbot

Leg 2 Selections: On Springs, El Paso Wood 

ON SPRINGS tends to hit a flat spot quite regularly but that hasn’t stopped him from winning three of his last four starts and he showed a good attitude to see off a useful sort at Worcester. However, preference is for EL PASO WOOD, who wasn’t disgraced when second over track and trip last time and will be partnered by Tom Scudamore. David Pipe’s charge has the strongest form of the pair (on a line through Lock’s Corner) and can take the scalp of the former. 

17:40 Newton Abbot

Leg 3 Selections: Lady Reset 

This is wide-open but I’ll go with the David Pipe-trained LADY RESET, who is progressive over hurdles and having resumed winning ways at Stratford on her penultimate start, she ran very well when third in a better race at Perth when last spotted. She is back down in grade off only a pound higher mark in this race and her record over this trip over hurdles is good. With lots to like about her chances, she could have too much class for these in leg three. 

18:10 Newton Abbot

Leg 4 Selections: Byzantine Empire 

This could prove to be a tactical battle between Ragamuffin and BYZANTINE EMPIRE, with preference for the latter. He was largely consistent over hurdles and has taken really well to fences, in which he’s won back-to-back events over the summer. He is only five too, so his best days are certainly ahead of him, and he’s the clear highest rated of these. He has to concede a lot of weight to his two rivals, but he should prove to be a class above them and is therefore confidently selected to stretch his unbeaten record to three. 

18:40 Newton Abbot

Leg 5 Selections: Get The Appeal, Our Three Sons 

Paul Nicholls’ GET THE APPEAL hasn’t been the most consistent of horses this year but she was a decent third over course-and-distance last month and has sound claims off this mark. She will have to be at her best to reverse that latest form with OUR THREE SONS though, who has only been up three-pounds for that latest success and should remain competitive off a workable mark. It’s possible these two could fight out the finish. 

19:10 Newton Abbot

Leg 6 Selections: Mr Mafia 

MR MAFIA is into the veteran stage of his career but he’s likely to get an uncontested lead and he drops into this grade for the first time since scoring at Ludlow off this mark. He won easily by seven lengths that day and hasn’t been disgraced in better events since. He can give his two younger rivals a lesson here off top-weight under the guidance of Sean Bowen. Moreover, he’s the only course-and-distance winner in the field.