In partnership with Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet, the 2024 edition of Ladies Day at Bangor-On-Dee was a glamourous affair with an action-packed seven-race card the perfect accompaniment. The feature race of the day came at 3:25pm in the Brooke-Rankin Ladies Day Novices’ Handicap Chase, with ground conditions Good on both courses on a sunny afternoon in Wales.
Race 1 – Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m ½f)
Having been successful in the final two races of the most recent Bangor meeting, Donald McCain’s fine form continued into Ladies Day when Not Now Nathaniel (1/3F) proved to be a class above his rivals in Race 1, scooting clear by 9 ½ lengths to score under Brian Hughes. Never too far away from the pace, Not Now Nathaniel raced in third place for the majority of the opening contest, the field taken along by his stablemate Upagainstit (6/1) at a modest gallop with Chantico (7/1) and Urs Fischer (40/1) also prominent. Moving up to challenge Upagainstit over the third-last obstacle, Not Now Nathaniel travelled with menace around the home turn, the leaders soon well clear of the opposition with two flights to jump. Cantering into a comfortable lead on the approach to the second-last, Not Now Nathaniel rapidly accelerated away down the home straight, quickly hopping over the final flight to record his second consecutive victory. Donning the colours of Casa No Mento, successful at this year’s Punchestown Festival, Not Now Nathaniel certainly looks another to follow!
Race 2 – Castle Mews Windows Handicap Chase (Class 4, 5yo+, 3m)
Breaking a losing run extending back to 2021, Almazhar Garde (12/1) rolled back the years in the second race of the day, running out a comfortable 3 ¾ length victor under Paul O’Brien for the Charlie Longsdon stable. A habitual prominent racer, Almazhar Garde was always to the fore in Race 2, content to race behind early leader and previous course winner Daranova (3/1F) through the opening circuit, ahead of recent course bronze medallist Getaway Glory (7/2) as Irish raider Rebellious Gale (8/1) brought up the rear. Flirting with the lead throughout the contest, Almazhar Garde made his boldest move before jumping three-out, cantering into the lead as Daranova quickly weakened out of contention, leaving Aquila Sky (10/1) to challenge the new leader around the home turn. Shaking up his mount having sailed over two-out, Paul O’Brien soon had the race sewn up aboard Almazhar Garde, the nine-year-old nimble over the last before being pushed out to secure a fifth win over fences. Successful when joining forces in the past, Longsdon and O’Brien also combined for victory in the 2019 Altcar Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) with smart mare Castafiore!
Race 3 – Rachel Jones Memorial Handicap Hurdle (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m ½f)
Lightly raced in recent years, Maxcel (15/2) showed the benefit of a recent return to the track when scoring impressively in the third race, overhauling long-time leader Feel The Pinch (9/2) in the final furlong to take the spoils for Charlie Deutsch and the Mel Rowley yard. Setting off in the prominent vanguard, Maxcel settled into a nice rhythm in the early stages of the contest, the field headed by three previous course winners in Barrichello (14/1), Sir Tivo (25/1), and Feel The Pinch (9/2) as they made their way down the far side of the track towards the final three obstacles. Negotiating three-out neatly enough, Maxcel raced widest of all around the home turn, coming under a ride as Feel The Pinch attempted to get first run on the field with two to jump. Gradually pulling back the deficit and joining the leader over the second-last, Maxcel soon found his stride and extended away smartly down the home straight, putting the race to bed by a tidy 7 lengths to score for winning owner Mrs M C Sweeney, whose Manyriverstocross also took the Grade 2 Winter Novices’ Hurdle in 2009!
Race 4 – Brooke-Rankin Ladies Day Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 4, 5yo+, 2m 1 ½f)
Victorious on chase debut a little over two weeks earlier, Breizh River (13/2) impressively repeated the feat in the fourth race of the day, jumping superbly and careering away up the run-in to record a 7-length victory under Henry Brooke for the Paul Robson stable. Travelling strongly throughout, Breizh River settled in mid-division through the opening mile and a quarter, racing around five lengths behind early leaders Grain d’Oudaries (4/1) and race favourite In This World (2/1F) as the field made their way towards the final three fences. Making ground down the outside despite making a mistake over the third-last, Breizh River soon looked to be in prime position around the turn into the straight, gathering up enough momentum to swoop past the leaders with two fences to negotiate. Fiddling his way over, Breizh River responded well for pressure on the run down to the last, maintaining a lead of a couple of lengths before sailing over the final fence and leaving In This World trailing in his wake back in second place. An up-and-coming trainer, Paul Robson had a winner here last year with Cannock Park, who also went on to place in a Grade 1 novices’ hurdle at Aintree!
Race 5 – RW Hough & Sons Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 5, 4yo+, 2m 3 ½f)
Having scored here on handicap debut three weeks prior, Regal And Royal (5/2) once again scored at Bangor-On-Dee when wearing down market leader Clararose (11/8F) in the closing stages to take Race 5 by half a length. Lobbing along at a steady gallop, Regal And Royal was kept towards the rear of midfield by Sean Quinlan through the first couple of miles, stalked on his inside by Clararose as rank outside Ivynator (125/1) took control at the head of affairs. Despite a couple of iffy leaps down the far side of the track, Regal And Royal travelled eye-catchingly well over three-out, moving up to challenge for the lead around the home turn with Clararose also in hot pursuit. Looking confident in the saddle, Sean Quinlan cruised into front rank aboard Regal And Royal over the second-last, coming out on top in the final furlong having seen off the challenge of Clararose in a well-fought battle after the final flight. Another winner for trainer Jennie Candlish and owner Mrs G A Clarke, the pair also teamed up for a Grade 2 success at Haydock in 2011 with smart stayer Cross Kennon!
Race 6 – Mike & Jill Medcalf 70th Birthday Mares’ Handicap Chase (Class 5, 5yo+, 2m 4 ½f)
Justifying market support in impressive style, Fancy Stuff (11/8F) added to his recent win at Stratford when taking the sixth race by a cool 5 ½ lengths, bringing home the spoils for Sean Bowen and Tom Gretton. Ridden patiently in rear division, Fancy Stuff was rarely out of last place through the opening two miles of the penultimate race, keeping company with second-favourite Gentle Connections (9/2) as Cotton End (14/1) led the field along at a steady tempo. Gaining a couple of places but still with a lot to do, Bowen looked unfazed by his position aboard Fancy Stuff around the turn into the straight, gradually meandering his way through the field as the pace began to collapse. Stalking the leading pack around the outside of runners, Fancy Stuff loomed menacingly over the second-last fence, catapulted into the lead before bounding clear down the home straight to round off a comfortable victory for Tom Gretton, a trainer operating at a huge 33% strike-rate this season!
Race 7 – Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet Open National Hunt Flat Race (GBB Race) (Class 4, 4-5yo, 2m ½f)
Springing the biggest surprise of the day, Sayva (28/1) showed a marked upturn in form to take the final race of the day by 1 ½ lengths under Richie McLernon, a first winner at Bangor-On-Dee for A J O’Neill since joining his father Jonjo on their joint-training licence. Always to the fore, Sayva raced in a share of the lead alongside Jacks Wish (11/1) through the opening mile and a half, the leading pair always at least a couple of lengths in front of their nearest pursuers Fan Magnet (9/2) and Bold Recruit (6/1) as they made their way to the final four furlongs. With Jacks Wish no longer able to maintain the pace, Sayva was left to lead the field into the home straight, still travelling best of all as Fan Magnet and Bold Recruit came under increasing pressure. Highlighting an impressive turn of foot, Sayva extended further clear upon passing the furlong marker, readily keeping on for McLernon’s urgings and eventually holding off Bold Recruit by 1 ¾ lengths at the finish. A winning owner with plenty of firepower, Lynne Maclennan also scooped two Grade 2 events last season with Personal Ambition scoring at Kelso, and Diva Luna victorious at Aintree’s Grand National Meeting!
Race report by Adam Perkins
