Devon stables were successful in three of the six races at Newton Abbot on Friday evening, writes Nick Hearder.

Armenian Boy, trained at Nicholashayne by David Pipe, set the ball rolling in the opening River Teign Handicap Hurdle. Jockey Tom Scudamore had the top weight prominent from the start and sent him in to the lead after three out.

Armenian Boy, at 5-1, went on to beat Captain Beckett, trained at Buckfastleigh by Jimmy Frost, by five lengths. It brought to an end for Pipe a losing run of more than 40.

Tiverton handler Stuart Howe took the Going Going Gone Selling Hurdle with Brian and Val Jones' Boogie Dancer. The mare was supported into favouritism at 5-2 and justified that confidence when pulling clear of Bet Noir.

The winner was ridden by Harry Skelton, son of leading international showjumper Nick.

Skelton went on to complete a double on Roby De Chimbre, who triumphed easily for Paul Nicholls in the Newton Abbot Races Novices' Chase.

This was the most prestigious race of the meeting and the most valuable with total prize money of £11,000.

Roby De Chimbre, who started at the prohibitive odds of 1-5 on, was the 154th winner of the season for Nicholls. The master of Ditcheat, Shepton Mallet, took his fourth consecutive trainers' title when the 2008/9 jumps season ended on Saturday.

Miss Nightshade, at odds of 4-1, took the last race, a bumper over 17 furlongs for Devon. The most experienced in the field of eight with three runs, she secured the prize for Cullompton trainer Stuart Kittow after regaining the lead a furlong out.

Philip Hobbs continued his good form with a double at Chepstow on the same evening. He also added to his season's tally at Newton when 1-3 chance won the Kingsteignton Novices' Handicap Hurdle under the promising conditional jockey Rhys Flint.

The ex-Irish Rien A Perdre has won his last two points impressively in March and he completed a hat-trick when winning the Teign Suite Novices' Hunters' Chase.

The gelding, which is trained by Seanin McPherson, blundered at the last but that did not stop him justifying favouritism by seven lengths.

The jumps season ended on Saturday, but the 2009/10 season got under way the following day.

The next meeting at Newton is on Thursday, when the first race is scheduled for 2.35pm.

Prior to that there is an evening meeting at Exeter on Tuesday, first race 5.50pm.