FRIDAY sees the first of two evening meetings at Newton Abbot this month with the £15,000 St. Austell Brewery Novices' Limited Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles the feature of a seven-race card, writes David Hucker.

Trainer Paul Nicholls has saddled seven winners so far this season including two by Rickety Bridge, who has won both his starts over fences. Rickety Bridge has been raised 4lbs for his latest win over the course, but is improving and can win again. He has chasing experience whereas Dexperts Opinion, formerly trained in France, was a narrow winner from I Am A Starman over hurdles last time out and would be making his chasing debut.

Court In A Storm finished runner-up to Sunray Shadow on his chasing debut and they could re-oppose on Friday, although the winner, along with Maximum Offers, has entries at at Worcester the evening before.

The action starts at 5.12pm with the Newton Abbot Ladies Night 23rd June Mares' Novices' Hurdle over two miles and one furlong which has attracted 20 entries, including Lady Kara, a winner at the last meeting. Frenati was a first-flight faller in that race, but she also has an entry at Fontwell Park on Wednesday.

Obsessedwithyou is a winner of six races, two of which have been over hurdles. Blue Siam, who is also entered in a later race, gave the two market leaders a run for their money at Stratford recently and Hereford winner Crystal Jet should step up on her Warwick run at the beginning of May.

The dark horse of the race is dual Irish point-to-point winner Colegram who is now trained by Dan Skelton. Three winners over the weekend took Skelton's score for the month to eight and 32 in total for the season as he aims to beat Martin Pipe's record of 243 set in 1999/2000.

Winning Paddy, who sprang a surprise over fences at the last meeting, is amongst 15 entries for the William Hill Handicap Hurdle over three and a quarter miles. Lynsey Larue is another to win over fences last time, but this may go to I Am Spider Man who has been knocking on the door.

Best Night, owned by the David Pipe Racing Club, had no answer to easy winner Beorma at Warwick last week, but could come good in the Alzheimer's Society Handicap Hurdle. Her trainer has also entered Ocean Heights and the form of Backer Bilk's run behind Machete Beach at Hereford was boosted when the winner scored again at Stratford.

Morning Mayhem was a wide-margin winner at the last meeting and will face a hike in the weights as a result, so should be up to carrying a 7lb penalty in the Olympus Plant & Tool Hire Handicap Hurdle. Three Pikes is consistent and came up against an in-form opponent in Il Va De Soi at Warwick last time.

Second most valuable race of the evening is the Sun Racing The Favourite Pullout Every Day Handicap Chase over two miles and half a furlong in which Skelton has entered three. Cobbler's Boy was raised 7lbs for his course win last month, At The Oche would be having his first run for the stable and Worcester chase winner Beorma, declared at Southwell on Tuesday, has a number of entries this week, including in the previous race.

Skelton has three entries in the closing Racing To School Reaches 25 Years Open National Hunt Flat Race in which Unflappable, third over the course on her debut, sets a good standard, but is also entered at Worcester the previous evening.