A bumper crowd of over six thousand made their way to North Wales for the 2025 Family Fun Day fixture at Bangor-On-Dee. The feature race came at 2:55pm in the Shropshire County Show Grand Wynnstay Handicap Chase, with ground conditions Good throughout.
Race 1 – Bangor-On-Dee Family Fun Day Handicap Hurdle (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m ½f)
A first winner for Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies under their new joint-licence, Stream Of Stars (7/4) led from pillar to post in the opening race, going on to score by 1 ½ lengths under Sam Twiston-Davies. Setting a modest tempo out in front, Stream Of Stars was in no rush through the opening mile and a half, always racing a couple of lengths in front of former course winner Lipa K (7/1). Extending the lead around the home turn, Stream Of Stars travelled much the best on the run to two-out, and despite a few scruffy leaps over the final couple of obstacles, was always doing enough in the final furlong. A jockey in fine form, Sam Twiston-Davies won four graded races for his dad Nigel last season, including a Grade 1 at Aintree with Potters Charm!
Race 2 – Fyrnwy Equine Clinic Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 5, 4yo+, 2m 3 ½f)
Donning the colours of the famous Red Rum, the second race of the day was snatched on the line by Soldier In Mayo (3/1), rallying well to win by a neck for Brian Hughes and Donald McCain. Racing enthusiastically throughout, Soldier In Mayo jumped slightly to his right for the majority of the contest, leading the way from Eagles Gold (7/1) and Gone In Sixty (4/1) as they made their way over the third-last. Soon ridden upon entering the straight, Soldier In Mayo was briefly passed over two-out by a rallying Kenmya (11/2), all of a sudden looking booked for second. However, staying on strongly and responding well for pressure, Soldier In Mayo wrestled his way back to lead close home, landing the spoils in gritty style. A reliable rider, Brian Hughes also won two Grade 2s last season, including the Old Roan aboard Minella Drama!
Race 3 – Shropshire County Show Grand Wynnstay Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2, 5yo+, 2m 1 ½f)
A dual Grade 2 winner in his youth, Third Time Lucki (9/2) rolled back the years to take the feature race of the day, jumping boldly on his way to a 5 ½ length success for Jonathan Burke and Fergal O’Brien. A strong travelling sort, Third Time Lucki kept early leader Etalon (7/4F) up to his work for the most part, tanking along in second place as last year’s winner Fringill Dike (5/1) raced out wide. Taking the lead over the third-last, Third Time Lucki soon had his rivals in big trouble around the home turn, cantering into the straight as Fringill Dike came under firm riding. Easy as you like, Third Time Lucki popped over the final two fences in tidy style, simply strolling clear to record a first ever victory under rules for winning owners The Craze Family!
Race 4 – Horse PWR ‘National Hunt’ Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m ½f)
Finally off the mark after a string of placed efforts, Blackwater Lilly (4/5F) was made to pull out all the stops in Race 4, ridden out by Craig Nichol to secure a well-fought ¾-length victory for trainer Brian Ellison. Quite keen in the early stages, Blackwater Lilly was kept in mid-division by Craig Nichol through the halfway point, conserving every ounce of available energy as Old Bridge (85/40F) led them down the far side. Pulling her way into the lead before three-out, Blackwater Lilly soon faced a challenge from City Of Diamonds (11/2) around the home turn, the pair locking horns on the run to the second last. Despite being overtaken at it, Blackwater Lilly pulled out more after two-out, staying on gamely in the closing stages to score for Craig Nichol, a jockey who also won two valuable handicaps last season aboard Cracking Rhapsody!
Race 5 – Remembering Kitty Warburton Handicap Chase (Class 5, 5yo+, 3m)
Extending his winning streak to three, Bumpy Evans (85/40F) ran out a thoroughly dominant victor of the fifth race, making all under David Noonan to take the spoils for Welsh trainer Tim Vaughan. In the lead from flag-fall, Bumpy Evans set a brisk tempo out in front under David Noonan, stretching well clear of the remainder of the field, headed up by Another Lord (4/1). After a few dodgy leaps down the far side of the track, Bumpy Evans surrendered much of his advantage before the home turn, his lead now down to just a couple of a lengths. However, quickly gathering stride and upping the ante in the home straight, Bumpy Evans readily found his second wind, galloping on strongly in the final furlong to return an easy winner. A Grade 1-winning rider, Noonan’s finest hour came in the 2023 Henry III Novices Chase aboard Le Patron!
Race 6 – Wrexham Lager Handicap Chase (Class 5, 5yo+, 2m 1 ½f)
Turning his recent form figures upside down, Barranco (7/4F) rewarded market support to take the sixth race in tidy style, delivered under a well-timed ride from Toby Wynne to score by 4 ¼ lengths for the Greenall/Guerriero yard. Held up but travelling strongly throughout, Barranco was kept cold for the majority of the contest, smuggled away in amongst horses as Flash In The Park (15/2) led the field down the far side. Taking closer order over three-out, Barranco soon found himself in third place on the turn into the straight, the field headed by Jaitroplaclasse (10/1) with two to left jump. Ridden along but responding well for pressure, Barranco bounded into the lead over two-out, and after another fine leap at the last, ran on well towards the finish to score impressively and provide Toby Wynne with his first victory of the 2025-26 jump season!
Race 7 – Bangor-On-Dee Handicap Hurdle (Class 5, 4yo+, 2m 7f)
Following up a recent win at Newcastle, Heather Honey (7/1) came home a determined winner of the finale, toughing it out under Peter Kavanagh to score by a length for Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith. Fairly prominent in a well-grouped quintet, Heather Honey kept close tabs on the leaders through the opening two miles, racing in the slipstream of Aazza (15/8) as Strolling Along (6/4F) brought up the rear. Sneaking into second place after three-out, Heather Honey really caught the eye rounding the final bend, moving to within a length of the leader and kicking away from a firmly ridden Strolling Along. Nudged into a slender lead over the second-last, Heather Honey soon had the race wrapped up, staying on strongly in the final furlong to hold off a spirited Aazza in second place. A relatively new partnership, Parkinson & Smith combined to win 27 races last season, including the valuable Masters Handicap Chase with O’Connell!
Race report by Adam Perkins
