WITH the jumps season due to go up a gear in a month's time, the recent rain has been a welcome sight, although courses that haven't raced through the summer are still looking parched and contingency measures, including hurdle-only meetings, are being considered by the British Horseracing Authority, writes David Hucker.

There are no such problems at Newton Abbot and Monday sees the first of five meetings still to come in 2026 with a seven-race card topped by the £15,000 Par Inn Handicap Hurdle.

Leading trainer Dan Skelton has entered two with the front-running Edelak, a four-time winner this season, looking the likely stable representative. With a third of the season gone, Skelton was on 76 winners chasing Martin Pipe's all-time record of 243 and he has plenty of entries around the country this week.

Ellerton was a comfortable winner from his sole rival at the last meeting and another course winner Morning Mayhem bounced back to form at Cartmel, with dual course winner Arctic Voyage another who should run well.

The action gets underway at 2.00pm with the Sky Sports Racing Juvenile Hurdle in which course winner Timely Salute and Uttoxeter winner Hello Garda would have to give weight to all their rivals. Timely Salute beat Us Officer here in July and he, in turn was well behind Hello Garda who looks to have the stronger form despite being a surprise 40/1 winner on the day.

Both could struggle this time, with the race going to one of the newcomers and Moment Of Light, a winner of two all-weather races when trained by James Owen and now with Dan Skelton, likely to be a popular choice. Skelton has also entered Causing Problems in the same ownership and Jerseygeordie, a winner over one mile and six furlongs at Les Landes last time, could also be worth a look.

Explode, lightly raced over hurdles but a winner twice on the flat this summer, is an interesting entry for trainer Faye Bramley in the following Sun Racing Summer Jumps Championship Maiden Hurdle. Crackalackin, runner-up in his last two starts, and Devon Red, runner-up over the course to Playful Fox, but also holding entries at Fontwell Park on Sunday, are others to note.

There are two chases on the card starting with the St. Austell Brewery Handicap Chase in which Skelton holds two of the eight entries. Uttoxeter winner Ashdown Forest would be making his chasing debut and Belle Le Grand has been well beaten in her two chase starts. Both have other entries on Friday, but this is the only entry in the coming week for three-time hurdles winner Saint Polo, unplaced on his only chase start to date.

Wide-margin course winner Jager Time could defy top weight in the longest race of the afternoon, the Devonport Royal Dockyard Social Club Handicap Hurdle over an extended three and a quarter miles. The main danger could come from My Girl Katie, three times a course winner already this season. Final Entry and Bashful Boy were both entered at the last meeting, and Edgewell is a course winner over fences, but is another entered at Fontwell Park.

The second chase of the afternoon is the Grandad Swales Happy 80th Birthday Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Chase in which trainer Paul Nicholls has entered Jetty May, pulled up here in June. She is also entered in the closing hurdle race and, preference would be for Mr McWhinny.

There are 16 entries for the closing Newton Abbot Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle including Devon Red and Jetty May. Course winner Makinbecon has slipped down a little in the handicap and bottom-weight Ghost Jury would be in with chance on her run here in July when second to Miss Kassiopi.