Slow ground made for some gruelling contests on Spring Into Racing Day at Bangor-On-Dee in February 2025. The feature race of the day arrived at 2:55pm in which Big City Roller aimed to defy an absence of over 400 days in the Bangor-On-Dee Occasion Package Handicap Chase (Class 4). Ground conditions remained Heavy on a day where light rain showers were persistent throughout.
Race 1 – Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3, 5yo+, 2m 1 ½f)
A winner here three years ago on the point-to-point circuit, Casa No Mento (4/7F) returned an emphatic winner of Race 1, scooting up the run-in to score by a huge 16 lengths for Sam & Nigel Twiston-Davies. Kept quiet on just her second start over fences, Casa No Mento raced in last place for much of the opening contest, travelling smoothly in the slipstream of recent Southwell scorer Cabhfuilfungi (100/30) through the first mile. Making stylish headway off the back of the third-last, Casa No Mento fairly breezed past the leaders on the turn into the straight, firmly in command on the approach to two-out as Cabhfuilfungi gave chase. Hopping over the final two obstacles in tidy style, Casa No Mento was simply not for catching in the opening race, coming clear under Sam Twiston-Davies to score for father/trainer Nigel, and brother/part-owner Willy: a true family affair!
Race 2 – Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Novices’ Handicap Chase (Class 5, 5yo+, 2m 1 ½f)
Notching his first victory over fences, Eric Carmen (7/1) proved to be a gutsy winner of the second race, battling on well to take the spoils by 1 ¾ lengths for local trainer Gary Hanmer. Always to the fore, Eric Carmen set the pace for much of the way under Jack Hogan, racing a couple of lengths clear of the chasing pack as market leader Jackpot Cash (4/5F) brought up the rear. Leading the way until headed by Jaitroplacasse (14/1) around the home turn, Eric Carmen never looked to be in too much trouble in Race 2, regaining the lead on the run down towards the second-last as Jackpot Cash came from out of the pack to give vain chase. Tidy enough at the last, Eric Carmen showed a willing attitude to plough through the heavy ground in the final furlong and provide Gary Hanmer with a sixteenth winner of the season and Jack Hogan with his twentieth; congratulations to connections!
Race 3 – Bangor-On-Dee Occasion Package Handicap Chase (Class 4, 5yo+, 2m 4 ½f)
Defying an absence of 445 days, Big City Roller (2/1) took the field apart in the third race of the day, jumping with aplomb and going on to record a 26-length success under Lilly Pinchin for trainer Charlie Longsdon. With just the four runners going to post, there was no scrimmaging required for Lilly Pinchin aboard Big City Roller, content to keep her mount a couple of lengths behind early leader Ballybegg (5/4F) as Imperial Alex (4/1) and Findthetime (17/2) settled nicely in behind. In a contest that quickly developed into a two-horse race, Ballybegg and Big City Roller came clear of the remainder before rounding the home turn, the latter travelling notably strongly before cantering into the lead approaching the final two fences. After negotiating both with ease, Big City Roller rapidly extended away in impressive fashion to take first prize for winning owners Old Gold Racing, whose Apple Away scored here in 2022 before going on to win a Grade 1 at Aintree in her first season!
Race 4 – Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Mares’ Maiden Hurdle (Herring Queen Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m ½f)
The fourth race of the afternoon saw yet another easy winner when I’ve Madeupmymind (1/3F) sluiced through the mud to score by 16 lengths for the red-hot Ben Jones and Ben Pauling team. Leading from the outset, there was no messing about up front from I’ve Madeupmymind and Ben Jones through the opening mile, moving smoothly and stretching into a commanding lead down the far side of the track ahead of High As Hope (14/1) in second. Hopping over the second-last in a clear lead as her main rivals began to toil, it soon looked to be somewhat of a penalty kick for I’ve Madeupmymind heading into the home straight, passing through the two-furlong marker in splendid isolation. Merely having to pop over the final flight to secure the win, I’ve Madeupmymind duly did so and added yet another victory to a stellar season for Ben Jones and Ben Pauling, in which the pair have combined for six Graded victories including Grade 1s with Handstands and The Jukebox Man!
Race 5 – Watch Sky Sports Racing Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m 3 ½f)
An uncompetitive fifth race proved to be all too easy for the well-backed Kingbel Du Lion (4/5F), the French bred five-year-old handling conditions perfectly on his way to a 12-length victory for Charlie Deutsch and Venetia Williams. Having his first start on a British racetrack since arriving from France, Kingbel Du Lion took over after jumping the third obstacle, his rivals Winchmore Hill (6/5) and Steal The Moves (28/1) racing in single file as Charlie Deutsch gradually increased the tempo towards the final two flights. Stretching his lead to five lengths around the home turn, victory soon looked to be an inevitability for Kingbel Du Lion as the opposition came under firm pressure, the leader out on his own as the final flight came into view. Popping over nicely, Kingbel Du Lion readily strolled home to secure a first victory under rules and a first win at Bangor-On-Dee for a man whose silks are so often synonymous with big winners; has winning owner Rich Ricci unearthed yet another future star?
Race 6 – Hope House Children’s Hospices Cross Lanes Handicap Hurdle (Class 5, 4yo+, 2m 3 ½f)
Impressively following up his recent victory at Chepstow, Richardson (11/4F) returned a comfortable 8-length winner of the sixth race for owner/trainer Belinda Clarke and jockey Lee Edwards. Held up in last to get through the attritional conditions, Richardson kept out of trouble through the opening couple of miles, racing at the opposite end of the field to Rock Hurley (9/2) as the field moved along at a sedate pace. Picking his way through the chasing pack as Rock Hurley led them towards the second-last, Richardson soon found himself challenging for third place around the turn into the straight, leaving four runners behind as he took dead aim at the leaders. Ridden along but rapidly making ground on the outside, Richardson battled his way into the lead a furlong from home, and after jumping the last efficiently, comfortably held off his opponents to provide a winner for owner and trainer Belinda Clarke, who also scored here in May 2024 with course regular On The Platform!
Race 7 – Bangor Point-To-Point 9th March Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 5, 4yo+, 2m 7f)
A superb day for favourite backers was rounded off by a game performance from Henrysbrotherjack (11/8F) in the finale, the six-year-old Olly Murphy inmate coming home 3 ½ lengths to the good under a fine ride from Lewis Stones. Out of harm’s way for much of the seventh race, Henrysbrotherjack brought up the rear through the first two miles, latching onto the leading quartet as Goguenard (100/30) set a slow pace in front. Gradually picking his way through the field on the run towards the final two obstacles, Lewis Stones sent Henrysbrotherjack for home with a couple of furlongs to race, cajoling his mount into second place around the turn into the straight as Goguenard came under pressure. Ridden along but in the clear, Henrysbrotherjack responded well for pressure in the final furlong, joining the leader over the last before extending away gamely in the closing stages to contribute to Olly Murphy’s £1.3 million prize money haul for the 2024/25 jumps season!
Race report by Adam Perkins
