NEWTON Abbot stages its third meeting of the month on Sunday (July 19) before the summer jumps season takes a break with the annual Mascot Race sponsored by Rowcroft Hospice and a six-race jumps card, writes David Hucker.

The racing action gets underway at 2.30pm with the John Bircham And Stephen "Jagger" Hayes Memorial Juvenile Maiden Hurdle in which leading trainer Dan Skelton has two entries.

Salkadan, a winner on the flat at Haydock Park, would be making his jumping debut and the well-bred High Aura, who Skelton owns and trains, finished third on her racecourse debut at Stratford.

Another with racecourse experience is Affection, who set the pace in a slowly-run race until fading in the straight on her debut over the course, and two newcomers with wins on the flat are Wolverhampton scorer My Champion and Valpovo, a winner in France.

Ask Peter, three times a winner on the flat, but still looking for her first win over hurdles, is amongst 13 entries for the Happy 80th Birthday Ted Hull Mares' Maiden Hurdle. Her trainer Anthony Honeyball has also entered Steal A Glance who finished behind another entry, Getmyfriend, over the course last time in a race won by Likewhatyousee.

The most interesting entry is Katie Can't Count who has had just one run, finishing fourth in a Downpatrick bumper. Trainer Willie Mullins has few British runners in the summer, but his son Patrick is aiming to ride a winner at every course and has yet to have a ride at Newton Abbot.

It's A Breeze beat The Gypsy Davey at the last meeting and they could meet again in the Dick Oliver At Newton Abbot Races Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs. The 7lb penalty carried by It's A Breeze for that win should help bring them closer together, but preference would be for Culligran, trained by DJ Jeffreys, who finished runner-up to the improving Knightsbridge at Worcester at the beginning of the month.

There are some familiar names amongst the 22 entries for the Brendon Soper Memorial Handicap Hurdle with Renoir, Get The Value, Ugo Bingo, Coup De Gold, Peace Motivator and Anothermanicmonday all having finished unplaced in the race won by Raffles Nobu at the last meeting. It was another entry, Saucats, who did best in that race, finishing 2¾ lengths behind the winner and there is no reason why he shouldn't fare best again.

The veteran Cogital has had a run on the flat since winning over the course in June and another course winner Makinbecon returned to form at Market Rasen two weeks ago, but is now 10lbs higher in the weights than when he beat Saucats back in May.

Byzantium and Time To Bite top the weights in the Zero To Exit Handicap Hurdle over three and a quarter miles. They met last year when Byzantium won by 25 lengths and, with Time To Bite's best efforts coming over fences, it is difficult to see how he can close the gap. Next in the weights is Muskerry Rock, a winner over fences at the last meeting, but who would run from a 10lb lower mark over hurdles.

The two that appeal more are Final Entry and Jager Time who were separated by the minimum margin of a nose when they met here last month and, with Jager Time needing just one more stride to prevail, he looks the one if delivering his challenge earlier.

Course winner Edgewell has to overcome a 6lb rise in the weights if he is to complete a hat-trick in the closing Sun Racing Summer Jumps Championship Handicap Chase in which he could face competition from Balkardy, runner-up to Muskerry Rock last time and one of four entries for trainer Cath Williams, and another course winner in My Girl Katie.