Six races make up the card for Newton Abbot's evening meeting, with a six-runner mares' Novices' Hurdle race the first under starters' orders.

On paper the race looks a tussle between two of racing's main protagonists, AP McCoy and Robert Thornton, with the former on Synth Davis for Nicky Henderson.

This horse fell at the final flight at Southwell in April but he was running well at the time and has valid place claims.

Before that, he was second at Kempton, where he was beaten a neck after an awkward jump over the final flight.

Alan King saddles Way Back When, who ran just over a month ago, and she takes her hurdles bow after three placed efforts in bumpers.

With David Pipe enjoying such a good run, there will be plenty of support for Helen Wood in the Selling Hurdle. She ran her heart out two weeks ago to finish second at Towcester. A 32-race career has yielded four wins, and she deserves to get her nose in front again.

The Alison Thorpe-trained Hammer did not run badly at Exeter last week and deserves another chance, while Beautiful Vision may come back to his best over hurdles again after disappointing over fences last time out. However, best of the lot could be Calzaghe.

Jim Best, who is enjoying a terrific run of form, runs this horse on the flat and over jumps, and although he's carrying top weight today he could be a shade better than the rest.

Cockney Trucker looked an exciting prospect when winning his bumper at Sandown in 2008 and was considered good enough to line up in the champion bumper at the Cheltenham Festival in 2009 where he was eighth. He finished third in the County Hurdle at the festival a season later but since then his form has not really lived up to expectations with his jumping not quite up to scratch.

A confidence booster around Newton Abbot may see him come back to his best again in the Novices' Chase.

Evan Williams' pair in the 2m6f Novices' Hurdle, Acrai Rua and Oursininlaw, both have chances. Oursininlaw overhauled odds-on favourite Oedipe at Fakenham a week ago to win a Novices Hurdle by three quarters of a length and it's interesting that Paul Moloney is sticking to him. AP McCoy is on Acrai Rua, a beaten favourite at Ffos Las two weeks ago.

However, Venetia Williams' Flannagan could scupper plans for a one-two. He easily won a maiden hurdle at Hereford in March and is clearly capable of going very close again.

Fifteen go to post in the 2m6f Handicap Hurdle, with Haldibari expected to defy a 7lb penalty for a win at Worcester two days ago. Paul Nicholls saddles Kauto The Kid, a heavy faller at Ayr a month ago, while Nulato was an easy winner at Southwell four weeks ago and will be priced to follow up.

A Hunter Chase concludes the card. The Jane Western- trained Distant Thunder will find this an easier proposition than his second at Cheltenham's evening meeting last week.