TRAINERS Paul Nicholls and Joe Tizzard both notched doubles at Newton Abbot Racecourse's first evening meeting of the year which also proved a good one for punters with the favourite obliging in six of the seven races, reports David Hucker.

Arctic Voyage, who stepped up on his previous efforts at Hereford last time to beat Crystal Days, a winner at Warwick next time out, was a hot favourite for the opening Classic Car Show On 9th June Novices' Hurdle, shortening from 8/11 to 4/9 before easing to 8/15 at the off.

Trainer Joe Tizzard saddled two with Arbitration, a winner on the flat at Wolverhampton last September and subsequently sold for 67,000gns, a steady second favourite.

They finished in market order with Arctic Voyage sweeping past the hard-pulling Arbitration off the home turn and, despite clipping the top of the final hurdle, running out an easy winner by nine lengths, with Jubertilee, who made the early running, back in third.

Course winner Reel Orange, runner-up to Belle Le Grand here last time, was the even-money market leader for the following Day Before Terry Wheeler's Birthday Mares' Handicap Hurdle with Blackwater Lilly second best. Champion trainer Dan Skelton saddled 7/1 shot Evening Tess, runner-up at Uttoxeter 11 days ago and running in a handicap for the first time.

Four came into the home straight with a chance, but Freddie Gingell took the Tizzard-trained Reel Orange into a clear lead approaching the penultimate flight and she put in a good jump at the last to run on well from Evening Tess with Isabella Islay, another making her handicap debut, close up.

Move With The Beat and Plumpton winner Inca De Lafayette looked to have the edge over the other two runners in the Racing Welfare Supporting Mental Health Awareness Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs and they headed the market. Isabelle Ryder had been on board Move With The Beat in his last five races, winning three of them, and they were on the mark again, making all the running to beat Inca De Lafayette by 8½ lengths with the other two failing to finish.

Skelton had opted to run Cobbler's Boy in the Come Racing On 27th May Handicap Hurdle, rather than over fences in the previous race, and punters latched onto him, sending him off at 8/11 to make it four winning favourites on the night.

He could only finish second, however, as Ellerton and Brendon Powell took command between the last two flights to win by five lengths and bring up the Tizzard double.

Viroflay weakened out of contention when unplaced in the Randox Topham Handicap Chase over the Grand National fences but had a much easier task against two rivals in the St. Austell Brewery Handicap Chase.

Trained by Paul Nicholls, he just shaded favouritism over Hoe Joly Smoke and they finished in market order with Viroflay, ridden by Olive Nicholls, making all the running to win by 43 lengths.

Golden Son, twice successful under Rules last season, was favourite to take the Totnes And Bridgetown Chase Company Open Hunters' Chase and give Paul and Olive Nicholls a quick double. Regatta De Blanc, the mount of Charlie Marshall, had won her last two point-to-points and, including the rider's allowance, was receiving 20lbs in weight from Golden Son, but class told and the favourite, who had finished fourth at the Cheltenham Festival, was just too good for her.

Just three of the 10 runners in the closing William Hill Mares' Open National Hunt Flat Race had racecourse experience and it was 9/4 favourite Newbridge who, despite running about inside the final furlong, got off the mark at the first time of asking for trainer Henry Daly.