WITH the nights drawing in, Thursday sees the final evening meeting of the year at Newton Abbot with a seven-race card and an ABBA tribute band performing after racing as part of this summer's Party in the Paddock series, writes David Hucker.

There is an early start with the first, the Celebrating National Racehorse Week Maiden Hurdle, due off at 4.42pm, and, amongst the entries, is Ask Peter who was entered, but not declared, in two races at last Saturday's meeting.

Still looking for her first hurdles win after 12 starts, this might be her best chance yet, but standing in her way is Iwanttobreakfree, owned and trained by Dan Skelton, who has been placed in both starts since coming from Ireland.

Next up is the Wotton Printers Newton Abbot Novices' Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles which could go to Knightsbridge, who looked an improved horse with victories at Warwick and Worcester before disappointing last time. Premier Fantasy, placed in both his starts over the course, ran well behind My Girl Katie who franked the form with another win on Saturday.

Ask Peter is also entered in the ITUS Event Support Services Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle along with Saucats and Hawa Jumeirah, who were unplaced in the same race on Saturday. Daring To Dream has yet to win in nine races, but closed on the leaders when fourth at Cartmel to suggest she could feature here and, although the Skelton-trained Mystic Wind was beaten 18 lengths by the in-form Stellarmasterpiece at Stratford, this looks an easier task.

Feature race of the evening is the £25,000 MD Lite Cleaning Handicap Chase over two miles and, amongst the nine entries are Gore Point, who made it five wins over the course on Saturday, and Beorma, who rattled up seven wins in a row earlier in the season and was declared to run at Stratford on Tuesday.

David Pipe, who trained American Sniper to win Saturday's feature race, has course winners Final Entry and Bashful Boy in the Compwiz Ltd - IT Solutions For Business Handicap Hurdle over three miles and two and a half furlongs. My Girl Katie escapes a penalty for her win over fences and should be in the mix.

Three times a winner this season, including over the course in May, Thickthorn Tom would need a career-best performance to take the Marilyn And Millie's Retirement Chase Handicap Chase, but could be up to the task. Hat-trick seeking It's A Breeze is also on a career-high handicap mark and Lady Kara, a course winner over hurdles, made mistakes and unseated her jockey on her chasing debut at Stratford.

Skelton has entered four in the closing Sun Racing Summer Jumps Championship Handicap Hurdle for which the weights would be topped by course and distance winner Donnie Azoff. As well as Beroma, he can choose between Ice Jet and Lunar Orbit, both runners-up here on Saturday, and At The Oche who was brought down in a chase at Worcester on Sunday.