CENTARA, trained by Paul Nicholls, put up a career-best performance when making all the running to take the £25,000 Shop Local With Scott Richards Solicitors Handicap Chase, feature race of Newton Abbot's Family Funday, writes David Hucker.

Heading the betting was Finest View, who was beaten a neck when chasing a four-timer at Stratford last month, and she came to challenge Centara over the final two fences. The leader has been on a roll, winning in each of the last three months, and he pulled out more for jockey Jay Tidball to win again.

In the opening South West Rail Solutions Ltd Maiden Hurdle, Whatyouwaitingfor was sent off favourite to end a frustrating run of near misses. He set out to make all the running under Sam Twiston-Davies but was passed by market rival Three Pikes jumping the penultimate flight.

Whatyouwaitingfor came away from the last the better, however, to regain the lead on the run-in and hold on to win by a short head.

There was a surprise in the South West Rail Solutions Ltd Handicap Hurdle when 18/1 shot Baikal followed up his Stratford win in the hands of conditional jockey Joe Anderson. Dual course winner Stinginhisstep set out to make all the running, tracked by Hill Station, but he was back-pedalling as the runners turned for home.

It was Baikal, who had been kept busy with a run on the flat at Chepstow, who came to join Hill Station at the final flight and go away on the run-in to score by 1¼ lengths.

With two absentees, including likely favourite My Girl Katie, five contested the Royal Navy And Royal Marine Charity Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles with the betting headed by Blackacre, still to win after 16 attempts.

It was top-weight Just A Memory who took the field along, putting in some good jumps along the way, but she was caught by Blackacre approaching the final fence who was eight lengths to the good at the line.

Sergeant Fury, bidding for a four-timer, was the 2/1 favourite to land the South West Rail Solutions Ltd Handicap Hurdle, but he had to give way to the progressive juvenile Hope Rising, who was winning for the third time this season.

After course winner Max Of Stars had set the early pace, Sergeant Fury hit the front, but had challengers on both sides jumping the final flight including Hope Rising, who flew it to take command on the run-in.

The longest race of the afternoon was the Royal Air Force Handicap Hurdle over three miles and two and a half furlongs and it went to Worcester winner Faded Fantasy, who easily shrugged off a 6lb rise in the weights. Making all the running under Jack Tudor, he beat Testflight, reverting to hurdles after a course win over fences last time, by seven lengths with Lelantos back in third.

Ashburton trainer Chris Honour ran the front-running Time To Bite in the closing Thankyou To All Our Armed Forces Handicap Chase rather than in the feature race and it proved the right decision as he beat Limerick Leader with some ease to notch up another course win.