Finally off the mark for year, Bangor-On-Dee hosted a knowledgeable crowd for the Late Winter Meet in February 2026. The feature race came at 4pm in a competitive North Wales National Handicap Chase, with ground conditions Soft throughout.
Race 1 – Wynnstay Mares’ “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m ½f)
A model of consistency, Halftheworldaway (8/13F) broke her duck in fine style when running out a taking winner of the first race, scooting clear up the run-in to land the spoils for Craig Nichol and the Greenall-Guerriero team. In command from the outset, Halftheworldaway led from start to finish in the opener, jumping well throughout before displaying a sharp turn of foot after the second-last and careering away to score by a stylish six lengths. A fruitful combination, trainer and jockey were also successful at Kelso in the 2025 Edinburgh Gin Chase, scoring with smart stayer Duke Of Deception!
Race 2 – Bangor-On-Dee “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m ½f)
Despite taking a notable drift in the market, Harry Lowes (5/2) more than made up for an unlucky result in his last race when running on strongly to land Race 2, adding yet another winner to Dan and Harry Skelton’s magnificent season. Ridden patiently in third place for much of the way, Harry Lowes was played late under a confident ride from Harry Skelton, switching to the outside of the leaders over the final flight and keeping on stoutly to score by 3 ¼ lengths. A team responsible for 2025 Cheltenham Festival winner The New Lion, can the Skeltons and JP McManus repeat the feat in two weeks’ time?
Race 3 – The Legend, The Mogul, Chris Rowe Handicap Hurdle (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m 7f)
Doubling up in no time at all, the Skelton brothers struck again in the third race when Twistthenightaway (9/4) just about did enough to score by a length. Travelling best for much of the second circuit, Twistthenightaway was ridden with extreme confidence throughout by Harry Skelton, delivered to lead over two-out before keeping on well in the final furlong to fend off plucky old veteran Classic Concorde (9/2) at the finish. A tidy winner for connections, winning owner Paul Shanahan also enjoyed success over jumps with 2001 Champion Stayers Hurdle winner Bannow Bay; a class act on his day!
Race 4 – Wrexham Lager “Chasing Excellence” Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3, 5yo+, 2m 1 ½f)
Despite having only two opponents, short-priced favourite Mirabad (1/4F) was unable to provide a quickfire treble for the Skeltons in Race 4, finishing a yawning 31 lengths behind impressive winner Titan Discovery (7/2). Jumping smartly in second place for much of the contest, Robbie Llewellyn’s Titan Discovery really caught the eye under Liam Harrison, taking control after the third-last before scooting clear up the straight to leave Mirabad and Leading Choice (16/1) trailing in his wake. A real stable star, Titan Discovery won big prizes at Cheltenham and Windsor in 2025, taking home over £52K!
Race 5 – Alfa Aggregates Products North Wales National Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 4, 5yo+, 3m 5 ½f)
Finally taking advantage of a drop in the weights, Planned Paradise (4/1) came home a taking winner of the North Wales National, staying on stoutly to land the spoils for Welsh trainer/jockey combination Christian Williams and Jack Tudor. Patiently ridden throughout, Planned Paradise was kept in rear division for the first three miles of the contest, but as most of his opponents began to surrender to the stamina-sapping ground, the plucky ten-year-old ploughed through the mud to lead over the last and hold off a valiant Gold Emery (12/1) in second place. Dynamite in Welsh staying chases, Williams and Tudor also won the 2019 Welsh Grand National with Potter Corner!
Race 6 – Nightingale House Hospice Novices’ Handicap Chase (Class 5, 5yo+, 2m 1 ½f)
Off the mark over fences after a hiccup last time out, Just Aidan (16/1) readily outran his odds when landing the sixth race by 2 lengths for James Best and Harriet Dickin. Always prominent, Just Aidan tracked the pace behind the leaders for a large portion of the race, and as a number of his opponents began to cry enough with three fences to go, the seven-year-old gelding really found his feet, jumping boldly and staying on readily to fend off the challenge of Port Or Starboard (14/1) in the closing stages. A chasing specialist, James Best has a plethora of big race wins to his name, including two Becher Chases with Walk In The Mill, and two Grimthorpe Handicap Chases with Moroder!
Race 7 – Tom Jones Live At Chester Racecourse Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 4, 5yo+, 2m 4 ½f)
Another to break their maiden over fences, Bowenspark (6/4F) came home a ready winner of the final race under Stan Sheppard, scooting clear to score by 8 ½ lengths for Henry Daly. In touch with the leaders from the outset, Bowenspark never looked to be in any danger through the opening two miles of the finale, and after being shaken up to lead over the second-last, the bold jumping eight-year-old readily put himself well clear of market rival Casual Observer (13/8) in the final furlong. Enjoying a solid season, Stan Sheppard also won the valuable Veterans Final last month aboard Nocte Volatus!
Race report by Adam Perkins
