A welcome return having been forced to abandon in 2023, the Halloween Raceday at Bangor-On-Dee once again provided plenty of thrills and spills in the Welsh countryside. The going remained Soft (Heavy in places) throughout the day, with plenty of eye-catching performances to boot.
Race 1 – Halloween Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m 7f)
Adding a second C&D success to his name, Butler’s Brief (6/1) rolled back the years in the first race of the day, scrambling home by ¾ of a length for the Murray Dodd and Alastair Ralph team. Midfield for much of the opening circuit and a half, Butler’s Brief gradually moved into a more prominent position as the field headed towards their final four flights, racing alongside Kiss My Face (14/1) as Paricolor (9/1) led the way. Left in front as Paricolor stumbled on the run towards three-out, Butler’s Brief and Kiss My Face were soon locked in battle, swinging into the home straight a couple of lengths clear of Schalke (5/1). Hard ridden but gamely sticking to the task, Butler’s Brief refused to give in over the final two obstacles, eventually pulling out more in the closing stages to hold off the equally plucky Kiss My Face and Schalke in a gruelling finish to the opener. Operating at a 28% strike-rate, conditional jockey Murray Dodd has now ridden 7 winners from just 25 rides this season!
Race 2 – My Local Solicitor In Malpas Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 3, 4yo+, 2m ½ f)
Overcoming a ding-dong battle down the home straight, Navajo Indy (9/4) bravely held off the advances of Gamesters Guy (3/1) in the second race, edging home by a short head for Caoilin Quinn and trainer Tom Symonds. Always up with the pace, Navajo Indy raced alongside previous course winner Not Now Nathaniel (2/1F) for the most part, closely followed by the smooth-travelling Gamesters Guy as Maxiboy Dracostis (22/1) led the field over four-out. Moving with plenty of purpose under Quinn, Navajo Indy breezed into the lead over three out, albeit pestered by Gamesters Guy on the run down to the second-last. Despite briefly looking in trouble as Gamesters Guy poked his nose in front over two-out, the fluent jumping of Navajo Indy over the final two flights settled the score, the five-year-old eventually coming out on top after a thrilling battle in the final furlong. Successful twice at Bangor-On-Dee with talented hurdler Foxcub, winning part-owner Michael Baker looks to have another fine prospect for the upcoming jumps season!
Race 3 – Wrexham Business & Community Awards Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 4, 3yo+, 2m 3 ½f)
A much-improved horse for the red-hot James Owen stable, Mermaids Cave (7/2) recorded her fourth victory of the season in the third race, coming 2 lengths clear at the line under top jockey Sam Twiston-Davies. Held up in the early stages, Mermaids Cave was kept quiet by Twiston-Davies for much of the contest, patiently ridden behind a wall of horses as Could Be Trouble (10/1) led the field over three-out. Racing in the slipstream of Little Miss Dante (6/4F), Mermaids Cave soon moved up into a challenging position menace as Easy To Follow (5/1) took over at the second last flight. Hopping over nicely, Mermaids Cave stayed on well to the outside of Little Miss Dante on the run down to the last, battling on gamely to lead at the half-furlong pole before readily seeing off Easy To Follow towards the line. Regularly successful over flat and jumps, James Owen has had Listed success with both Liam Swagger and Burdett Road this year, as well as a Group 2 with Wimbledon Hawkeye!
Race 4 – North West National Hunt Racing Club Handicap Chase (Class 4, 4yo+, 3m)
Undeterred by the switch to fences, Chancycourt (5/1) ran out an impressive winner of Race 4, seeing off seventeen rivals under Connor Brace to score by 5 ½ lengths for the Fergal O’Brien yard. Kept towards the rear through the opening couple of miles, Chancycourt travelled strongly under Connor Brace, jumping well enough on chase debut as rank outsider Lazy Sunday (50/1) headed the field. One-by-one as his rivals began to feel the pinch, Chancycourt really caught the eye upon jumping three-out, latching onto the back of a tiring Exmoor Forest (9/1) as New Order (12/1) challenged for the lead around the home turn. Smoothly creeping his way into third place over the penultimate obstacle, Chancycourt looked to be travelling best of all on the run towards the final fence, and with one bold leap, sauntered into the lead off the back of the last and readily came clear to score in fine style ahead of a staying-on Ultra Beat (8/1). A fruitful partnership, Brace and O’Brien also joined forces to take Grade 2 victories with Horaces Pearl and Springtime Promise last season!
Race 5 – Weatherbys Stallion Book Novices’ Handicap Chase (For The Sir Charles Lowther Plate) (GBB Race) (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m 4 ½f)
Never seeing another rival, Billytherealbigred (9/4F) rewarded market support in no uncertain terms in the fifth race, jumping boldly on chase debut to finish 14 lengths clear under Henry Brooke for the Greenall-Guerriero team. Booted into the lead from flag-fall, Billytherealbigred was always in control under Henry Brooke in Race 5, a couple of lengths clear of Zestful Hope (16/1) in second place as recent winner Icare Grandchamp (11/2) settled towards the rear. Heading towards the final three fences, Billytherealbigred soon found himself in what looked an unassailable lead, gradually moving further and further clear as Immortal Flame (33/1) and Icare Grandchamp gave vain chase in behind. Negotiating the two fences in the home straight with aplomb, victory was never in doubt for Billytherealbigred, effortlessly extending away to record his first win over the larger obstacles. An owner with a knack for purchasing serial winners, Peter Conway also owned former Grade 1 winning hurdler Barizan for the best part of his career, a horse who also won at Bangor-On-Dee back in 2009!
Race 6 – Wrexham Business & Community Awards Charities Handicap Chase (Class 5, 4yo+, 2m 1 ½f)
Capitalising on the late exit of the Copernic Du Mazet (15/8F), Mutual Respect (7/2) stayed on strongly to score by 1 ¾ lengths in the penultimate race, bringing home the spoils under Kevin Brogan for trainer Billy Aprahamian. Racing in midfield alongside Libor Lad (4/1) for the opening mile, Mutual Respect had to be shunted along down the far side of the track, doing his level best to keep tabs on runaway leaders Dromlac Jury (15/2) and Copernic Du Mazet as the third-last came into view. Struggling to live with the increased tempo around the home turn, Mutual Respect looked in trouble coming into the straight. However, with the smooth-travelling Copernic Du Mazet taking a crashing fall at the second-last, Mutual Respect was soon presented with a golden opportunity, gradually wearing down the tiring Dromlac Jury on the run down to the last. Tidy enough over it, Mutual Respect readily seized the initiative in the closing stages, kicking clear under a determined Kevin Brogan to provide trainer Billy Aprahamian with his fifth winner of the season!
Race 7 – Overton Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race (GBB Race) (Class 4, 4-5yo, 2m ½f)
Second in his only point-to-point, North Of Richmond (8/1) came home a game winner of the finale under Kielan Woods, staying on impressively in the final furlong to score by 1 ¾ lengths for trainer Alex Hales. Held up in last place for the majority of the contest, North Of Richmond was in no hurry to play his hand under Kielan Woods, racing around five lengths behind early leader Sign Again (9/2) with market principal Douglas Hyde (13/8F) also prominent throughout. Nudged along around the home turn, North Of Richmond briefly looked tapped for toe entering the home straight. However, switched out wide and willingly staying on for his jockey’s urgings, North Of Richmond powered home in the final couple of furlongs, sticking his neck out gamely to see off Douglas Hyde in second place. Building up an impressive CV as a jockey, Woods also steered home two Grade 2 winners last season, including Personal Ambition at Kelso and Diva Luna at Aintree’s Grand National meeting!
Race report by Adam Perkins
