DAN and Harry Skelton were the combination to follow at Newton Abbot, landing a double with A Pai De Nom and Prince Zaltar who were both brought with perfectly timed challenges to win with something in hand, writes David Hucker.

A Pai De Nom had not been seen out since February, but he was still the one that punters wanted to be on in the Bay Tree Cottage Maiden Hurdle.

It was General Briar who made the running but, by the last hurdle, he had A Pai De Nom and Maldini Milano challenging on either side. General Briar jumped the hurdle well, but stumbled on landing, unseating his jockey, leaving A Pai De Nom to go clear of Maldini Milano for a comfortable win.

The runner-up had jumped violently to his left at the first hurdle and was less than fluent at some of the others but will have learned from the experience.

Chillhi set a good pace in the Colin Willcocks Memorial Handicap Hurdle, but was collared by top-weight Onefortheroad around the home turn. Waiting in behind was Prince Zaltar and, once Skelton pressed the button, he quickened clear for a 2½ length success.

With Catch Him Derry a non-runner, the opening Colin Stratton Retirement Novices' Chase was a match between Art Of Diplomacy, who was seeking a five-timer, and Stratford winner In The Air, both running in the colours of owner Bill Hawkins. Whilst they were meeting on level terms, Art Of Diplomacy was well clear on official chase ratings and jockey James Bowen was content to bide his time, stalking his sole rival.

Bowen sent his mount clear on the home turn and it proved a comfortable success in the end for Art Of Diplomacy to bring up the jockey's 35th winner of the season and another training success for his brother Mickey.

Best Night, owned by the David Pipe Racing Club, sprang a 22/1 surprise when making a winning hurdles debut in the First Office Print And IT Solutions Mares' Novices' Hurdle in the hands of jockey Jack Tudor.

Her cause was helped when Market Rasen winner Joueuse Royale, still in the lead at the penultimate flight, become another to stumble on landing, but Best Night was a clear winner in the end. Disappointment of the race was odds-on favourite Highland Haven, who was never in contention, finishing back in fourth.

Cumbria-based James Moffatt saddled top-weight Book Of Secrets in the Dartmoor Magazine Handicap Hurdle and it looked like the long trip to south Devon would prove worthwhile as he went past leader Jackson's Bay at the second-last hurdle. He couldn't repel the late challenge of Dickens, however, who got up on the run-in to win by a head.

Newmarket-based James Owen had already landed the prize for leading trainer in the RCA Summer Jumps Championship and he fittingly won the closing race with Shantou Lucky, who was winning for the fourth time this month since joining the stable and is clearly still ahead of the handicapper.

There is racing at the course again on Monday 29 September with the first of six races scheduled for 1.56pm.