ON Easter Saturday, Newton Abbot welcomed its largest crowd this century when 8,053 adults plus hundreds of children packed the south Devon course and, on Tuesday, it hosts the first of four family fun days this season with a six-race card that gets underway at 2.33pm, writes David Hucker.

The opening St. Austell Brewery Mares' Maiden Hurdle run over a trip of two miles, five and a half furlongs, has attracted 15 entries with Warwickshire trainer Olly Murphy having entered two in ex-Irish Atlantic City, runner-up to First Candidate on her stable debut at Haydock Park, and Uttoxeter bumper winner Kaydence, although both have an alternative engagement at Market Rasen the same afternoon. Laffer Curve ran well to be third behind No No Fizz at Huntingdon and could be another winner for leading trainer Dan Skelton.

There are 20 entries for the following Newton Abbot Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle over the same trip and Dulverton trainer Jeremy Scott has No Panic, who is also entered in a later race, and Miss Tirara, third to Lady Caro at Taunton last time.

Exeter winner Bredin Hill Dart, trained at Longdown by Sue Gardner, is another with a later entry at the meeting and Masonbrook Meadow, also an Exeter winner, looks fairly weighted on his form.

It's the minimum trip of two miles for the first steeplechase of the afternoon, the Thatchers Handicap Chase, and Bond Broker, raised 5lbs for his Ludlow win, would have to carry top weight of 12-2. Southoftheborder broke his duck over fences at the ninth attempt at Kempton Park, but could run at Market Rasen instead, and Warwick winner Irish Chorus, who has only had four runs over fences, makes plenty of appeal.

Longest race of the afternoon is the Tribute Handicap Hurdle over an extended three and a quarter miles in which Sue Gardner has entered course winner Lightonthewing in addition to Bredin Hill Dart, but the one that catches the eye is Clondaw Royale, who is coming down the weights.

Paul Nicholls has two entries in the Class 3 Visit Kauto The King 6th May Handicap Chase in the shape of Toothless and Clotilda. Kempton Park winner Bourbali has failed to score in eight races this season but is 6lbs lower in the weights now.

Course regular Time To Bite, trained by Chris Honour at Ashburton, returned after a 136-day break to finish third at Exeter last month and runner-up Outlaw Peter gave the form a boost when winning a valuable race at Haydock Park over Easter.

There is not much form to go on in the closing Newton Abbot Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race, but Sea Tempest, another with a Market Rasen entry, could step up on his debut third at Southwell and Nicky Henderson's newcomer Numero Ventotto, withdrawn from a similar race at the last meeting, would be another to note.