Sunny weather, a PRA Pony Race, and a competitive six-race card were the perfect ingredients for another superb edition of Family Fun Evening at Bangor-On-Dee in 2024. The feature race of the night came at 7:25pm in the Camden Stout Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3), with ground conditions varying between Good and Good To Soft across the Hurdle and the Chase courses.
Race 1 – Minimum £50,000 Tote Placepot Everyday Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m 3 ½f)
Following up a recent win at Uttoxeter, Valgrand (1/4F) was made to work very hard to secure victory in the first race of the evening, eventually running on well to hold off main rival Speed Davis (7/2) by 3 ¼ lengths and bring home the spoils for Dan & Harry Skelton. A two-horse race from very early on, Valgrand raced behind Speed Davis at the head of affairs throughout the opening two miles of the first race, never more than a length behind before taking the lead with four to jump. Travelling nicely on the bridle and quickly landing Speed Davis in a world of trouble, Valgrand looked in full control over three-out. However, getting lonely around the home turn, Valgrand soon appeared to be a sitting duck out in front, rapidly closed down by Speed Davis before jumping two-out. Despite this, Valgrand battled on well in the final furlong, hurdling quick and low before drawing clear in the closing stages to score cosily. Another winner successfully on the scoreboard for Dan Skelton, the Warwickshire trainer racked up 120 winners last season, earning over £2.9 million in the process!
Race 2 – Beck’s Handicap Chase (Class 4, 5yo+, 2m 4 ½f)
A winner at the track on his most recent start, Lipa K (6/4F) scored in even more impressive fashion second time around, careering away down the home straight by 9 ½ lengths under Henry Brooke to take the second race for the Greenall-Guerriero stable. Adopting similar tactics to his recent course victory, Lipa K mainly raced towards the back of the quartet for the majority of the second race, the field always well-bunched as Bagheera Ginge (7/2) set a modest tempo out in front. Moving sweetly under Henry Brooke down the far side of the track, Lipa K made his moved after jumping the third-last, overtaking Imperial Bede (15/8) and circling the field to challenge Le Cameleon (15/2) as the runners approached two-out. Showing a wonderful turn of foot after negotiating the obstacle, Lipa K careered away in emphatic style up the home straight, sailing over the final fence and readily putting the race to bed; Bagheera Ginge held on gamely for second place. Another with a career-best season in terms of prize money, Henry Brooke earned over £638k last year, marking up 50 winners to boot!
Race 3 – Bangor-On-Dee Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 5, 4yo+, 2m 7f)
Breaking her maiden at the fourteenth time of asking, Minniemum (9/1) finally put it all together in Race 3 under Sam Twiston-Davies, jumping nicely on her way to score by 3 ½ lengths for trainer Henry Daly. Always prominent, Minniemum raced mainly in third place through the opening two miles of the contest, content to leave Tregele (11/2) to set the pace out in front ahead of Home Sweet Highway (22/1), with market leader Newtonian (4/1F) never able to make much impression towards the rear of the field. Travelling well enough with half a mile to negotiate, Minniemum was booted into the third-last by Twiston-Davies, hopping over well before ridden along to move into second place around the home turn. Ready and willing to make her challenge, Minniemum moved up alongside Tregele over two-out, soon pulling into the lead with just one left to jump. Neatly popping over the final flight, Minniemum extended again in the final 100 yards, gamely holding off Home Sweet Highway to score under Sam Twiston-Davies, an ever-reliable jockey who also scored at this year’s Punchestown Festival aboard former Bangor Point-To-Point winner Casa No Mento!
Race 4 – Camden Stout Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3, 5yo+, 3m)
On just his second start back after a 3-year absence, Lesser (12/1) added a second course victory to his CV when staying-on nicely by 2 ¾ lengths to take the feature race of the day, defying the odds under Adam Wedge for trainer Richard Phillips. Never too far away in a well-bunched field of five, Lesser raced towards the back of the pack in the early stages, racing behind former Grade 3 winners First Street (100/30) and Hometown Boy (5/1) as market leader Flaming Ambition (11/8F) led the way for local trainer Gary Hanmer. Jumping well and making headway, Lesser soon looked likely to be a key player in the finish to the feature race, travelling strongly around the final turn and leaving Watergrange Jack (4/1) to fight out last place with the struggling First Street. Moving into second place over two-out, Lesser lurked menacingly between Flaming Ambition and Hometown Boy before jumping the last, and after a lovely leap over it, soon had the race settled. Always dependable on Welsh tracks, Wedge also scooped a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last year aboard Minella Missile!
Race 5 – Tote Never Beaten By SP Handicap Hurdle (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m ½f)
Adding to a recent victory at Ludlow two weeks earlier, Collingham (11/4) continued the good work under Charlie Maggs in the penultimate race of the night, keeping on well to score by a length for the Donald McCain team. Never too far away from early leader Forcing Bull (18/1), Collingham raced mainly towards the inside rail in the chasing vanguard, keeping company with joint market leaders Tedley (5/2JF) and Finest View (5/2JF) through the opening mile and a half. Choosing to play his hand late, Charlie Maggs continued to stalk the leaders aboard Collingham after negotiating the third-last, sticking to the inside rail as Forcing Bull came under pressure to hold the advantage. Nudged along to stay competitive, Collingham launched his attack over the second-last before being ridden more firmly on the run down to the last, and despite a late challenge his outside from Finest View, gamely pulled out more towards the finish to secure his sixth win over hurdles. Operating at a 33% strike-rate this season, Charlie Maggs also took the valuable bet365 Handicap Hurdle at Doncaster last season aboard Geromino, another Donald McCain inmate to have won at Bangor-On-Dee previously!
Race 6 – Visit Irish Store Sale With ITM Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 5, 4yo+, 2m 3 ½f)
Taking advantage of a depleted field, Barrons Land (6/5) was far too good for her two rivals in the sixth and final race, running on nicely to take the 3-runner contest by 3 ½ lengths, providing Brian Hughes and Donald McCain with yet another victory at the track. In front from pillar to post, Barrons Lad barely had a moment’s worry in what turned out to be a fairly uneventful finale, leading her two rivals Special Dragon (5/6F) and Chooch (10/1) in single file for much of the contest. Stepping up the tempo around the home turn, Barrons Lad soon had the race sewn up after a tidy leap over the second-last, readily maintaining an advantage of around 3 lengths before sailing over the final hurdle and forging clear to score impressively. Already successful in the previous race with Collingham, with this victory, winning owner Jimmy Fyffe has now owned 39 winners since the beginning of 2022!
Race report by Adam Perkins
