Abundant sunshine provided the perfect backdrop to this year’s Clwyd Special Riding Centre Charity Raceday at Bangor-On-Dee. The feature race of a bumper 8-race card arrived at 4:30pm in the Genesis Wealth Management Handicap Hurdle (Class 2), with going conditions settled as Good.
Race 1 – Jones Bros Supporting CSRC Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m 3 ½f)
Legendary Irish trainer Willie Mullins wasted no time in getting off the mark at Bangor-On-Dee when Fine Margin (11/8F) took the opening race on the card, grinding out the finish to score by a length under Patrick Mullins. In a race where it paid to be prominent, Fine Margin tracked the leaders for the most part, never more than a couple of lengths behind market rivals Home Sweet Highway (9/4) and Jumping Susie (11/4) as the field made their way through the two-mile mark. Jumping into second place over three-out, Fine Margin moved with menace towards the outside, stalking the leaders into the straight. As Home Sweet Highway faded out of contention and Fumet d’Oudaries (11/1) delivered a challenge, Fine Margin had to battle like never before over the last, responding well for pressure in the final furlong before seeing off his rivals in gritty style. A man with a knack for smart purchases, owner Peter Davies also has Grade 2 winning chaser Djelo amongst his ranks!
Race 2 – Alfa Aggregate Products Handicap Hurdle (Div I) (Class 5, 4yo+, 2m 3 ½f)
A week on from a facile victory at Fontwell, Hawaii Du Mestivel (8/13F) repeated the feat in no uncertain terms during Race 2, sauntering 9 ½ lengths clear to take the spoils for Sam Twiston-Davies and Neil Mulholland. Up with the pace from the outset, Hawaii Du Mestivel travelled smoothly through the opening couple of miles alongside Presenting Pete (12/1), the pair racing a couple of lengths clear of Eagle’s Realm (11/2) as they approached the third-last. Edging into the lead and moving eye-catchingly well under Twiston-Davies, Hawaii Du Mestivel soon had matters in hand around the home turn, stretching a couple of lengths clear before two-out. Hopping over neatly enough and now very much in the ascendancy, Hawaii Du Mestivel readily sauntered clear in the final furlong and a half, sailing over the last to score impressively. Successful with Mulholland in the past, owner Jane Gerard-Pearse was also the owner of Grade 2 winning hurdler Shantou Village!
Race 3 – Alfa Aggregate Products Handicap Hurdle (Div II) (Class 5, 4yo+, 2m 3 ½f)
Freshened up by a 3-month break, Jacobs Acre (6/1) ran out a gutsy ½ length winner of Race 3, toughing it out at the finish to provide Twiston-Davies and Mulholland with a quickfire double. Lobbing along contently for the majority of the contest, Jacobs Acre settled nicely in rear division under Sam Twiston-Davies, the field led by Time To Tinker (16/1) as the runners made their way through the two-mile point. Making stealthy headway through beaten horses, Jacobs Acre rapidly appeared on the scene on the run up to three-out, cruising into contention under a motionless jockey as Ten Ten Twenty (7/2) came under pressure. Rounding the turn with ease, a brief stumble from Jacobs Acre at two-out soon paled into significance, the new leader staying-on strongly after the last to hold off a valiant Ten Ten Twenty in the closing stages. A team to be feared, Twiston-Davies and Mulholland also took the 2021 Scottish Champion Hurdle (Grade 2) with Milkwood!
Race 4 – Kronospan Supporting CSRC Handicap Chase (Class 3, 4yo+, 2m 4 ½f)
A solid fifth in the valuable Summer Plate last time out, Riskintheground (2/1F) rewarded market support in fine style during the fourth race, ridden out to score by a cosy 2 lengths for Dan & Harry Skelton. Mainly towards the rear of the field, Harry Skelton kept his cool aboard Riskintheground, only making headway through the chasing pack down the far side of the track, with Bella Bliss (3/1) leading the way. Moving up alongside Before Midnight (20/1) over four-out, Riskintheground soon looked to be in pole position to strike, stalking Bella Bliss over the third-last before the pair kicked clear into the straight. Pushed along but still with plenty left in the tank, Riskintheground reached the leader’s coattails after safely negotiating two-out, readily pulling out more as the final fence loomed. Neat over it and responding well for his rider’s urgings, Riskintheground soon settled matters, soldiering on gamely in the final furlong to score convincingly. Missing out on the trainer’s championship by a whisker, Dan Skelton amassed £2.9 million last season, with 120 winners to boot!
Race 5 – Dodson & Horrell Supporting CSRC Handicap Chase (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m 1 ½f)
Enduring a rather up and down season, Mix Of Clover (33/1) put in one of his better performances in the fifth race of the day, adding a second course victory to his name when running out a 2 ¾ length victor for Murray Dodd and Alastair Ralph. Racing prominently, Mix Of Clover travelled nicely under Dodd through the opening mile and a half, keeping company with the Donald McCain duo Guillaume (9/2) and Malpas (15/2) as the field began to close up on the run towards the third last obstacle. Moving well in the slipstream of Malpas, Mix Of Clover gradually edged into a narrow lead around the home turn, his nearest pursuer Dream Jet (11/4F) looking to be one of many still in with a chance over two-out. However, boldly battling on under pressure, Mix Of Clover found a second gear in the final furlong, sticking on admirably in the closing stages to keep a staying-on Guillaume at bay. A fifth winner of the year now in the bag, Murray Dodd is now operating at an impressive 29% strike rate!
Race 6 – Genesis Wealth Management Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2, 4yo+, 2m 7f)
Despite being the joint-oldest contender, Finisk River (11/4F) pulled out all the stops under Brian Hughes to take a strong renewal of the feature race, holding on bravely to score by a short head for trainer Donald McCain. Rarely out of the first two, Finisk River adopted his usual style of racing towards the head of affairs in Race 6, followed closest of all by fellow course winner Butler’s Brief (50/1) as Bucko’s Boy (11/2) clung to the inside rail. Taking over at the third-last, Finisk River oozed class under Brian Hughes, the majority of the field now under pressure to maintain their positions as the field made their way into the straight. Sticking on bravely when challenged on his outside by Bucko’s Boy, the line came just at the right time for Finisk River, seeing off his nearest pursuer in the shadows of the post to provide winning owner Les Buckley with his first victory since March 2023!
Race 7 – Bangor-On-Dee Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle (Div I) (Class 5, 4yo+, 2m ½f)
Yet another to improve for a switch to Dan Skelton’s yard, Got Grey (Evs F) ran out a mightily impressive winner of the seventh race, easily coasting home under Harry Skelton to take the spoils by a cool 3 ¼ lengths. Keeping tabs on the leaders for the majority of the contest, Harry Skelton positioned Got Grey towards the front of the chasing pack, racing in the slipstream of Deal Em High (66/1) as Footloose Man (16/5) spearheaded the field. Making headway through the vanguard down the far side of the track, Got Grey rapidly gained ground on the leaders as they approached the final three obstacles, squeezing up the inside rail as the runners rounded the home turn. Switching to the outside, Got Grey soon had the race in safe keeping under Harry Skelton, easing past Footloose Man a furlong from home before powering clear in taking style to land the spoils. With 44 winners already secured this season, Harry Skelton looks well on his way to exceeding last year’s tally of 81 wins!
Race 8 – Bangor-On-Dee Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle (Div II) (Class 5, 4yo+, 2m ½f)
Having shown little in four previous runs under rules, Prolific Profile (7/2) finally rose to the occasion in the final race of the afternoon, staying on stoutly under Gavin Sheehan to bag a ½ length victory for trainer Katy Price. Leading from the outset, Prolific Profile set a fairly modest tempo throughout the eighth race, with market leader Pillar Rock (16/5F) racing towards the back of the pack as the field made their way through the halfway point. Stepping it up a notch after negotiating three-out, Prolific Profile extended over a length clear on the run down to the second-last flight of hurdles, stalked all the while by a staying-on Tropical Talent (13/2). Now under firm pressure, Prolific Profile looked to be a sitting duck over the final flight, but finding an extra gear when it mattered most, gamely pulled back in front to steal victory from the jaws of defeat. No stranger to the winner’s podium, trainer Katy Price also took the 2020 Summer Cup at Uttoxeter with Minellacelebration!
Race report by Adam Perkins
