The 2025 September Meeting at Bangor-On-Dee showcased a competitive six-race card for racegoers to enjoy, the feature of which came in a valuable Class 2 contest in the Wrexham Lager Handicap Chase. Ground conditions remained Good (Good To Firm in places) throughout the afternoon on another sunny day in North Wales.
Race 1 – Louise Gorton 50th Birthday Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m 3 ½f)
A youngster on the rise, Intosomethinggood (4/6F) recorded his third win of the season when taking the opening race in emphatic style, going on to score by 11 lengths for Toby McCain-Mitchell and the Twiston-Davies yard. Held up for much of the first circuit, Intosomethinggood only began to make inroads on the leaders when negotiating the third-last flight of hurdles, travelling strongly to move within a length of La Lolita (40/1). Sneaking up the inside rail after jumping three-out, Intosomethinggood moved with real zest around the home turn, and after taking the lead over the second-last, readily kicked clear of the opposition to record a very taking victory. A respected team, trainer and jockey also combined when taking last year’s Berkshire National with Beauport!
Race 2 – Archway Homes Malpas Handicap Hurdle (Class 5, 4yo+, 2m 3 ½f)
Spearheading a Donald McCain 1-2-3, Independent Jimmy (3/1F) rewarded strong market support to steal victory by a neck in the second race, guided home by the ever-reliable Theo Gillard. Setting a decent tempo from the get-go, Independent Jimmy always looked comfortable out in front, maintaining the gallop by a narrow margin ahead of Ballyvaughan Bay (18/1) as Jipekaa Machin (5/1) made ground over three-out. Extending his lead with every stride, Independent Jimmy sound found himself in a clear lead around the home turn, pushed along as Jipekaa Machin continued to close. However, a strong late thrust from stablemate Zamond (13/2) kept the leader honest in the closing stages, eventually ridden out to score by just a neck in the closing stages. A decent start to the season, Donald McCain has now banked 13 winners for 2025-26!
Race 3 – Breeze Capital Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m 4 ½f)
An 11-length winner last time out, Magistrato (EvensF) recorded his second demolition job in a row when successful in the third race, making all under James Bowen in a 17-length romp for trainer Deborah Cole. Finding his stride early, Magistrato went straight into the lead from flag-fall, maintaining a strong pace at the head of affairs as Northern Bound (17/2) led the chasing pack in behind. Travelling strongly throughout, Magistrato barely got out of second gear in the third race of the day, still holding a commanding lead as he led the field over three-out. Swinging away on the bridle towards the final two obstacles, Magistrato readily put extended the advantage over the second-last, and when push came to shove over the last, eased even further clear to score impressively. Fresh from a career-best season, James Bowen is already on 30 winners for 2025-26!
Race 4 – Wrexham Lager Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2, 4yo+, 3m)
One of the stories of the summer, Art Of Diplomacy (2/1F) racked up his fourth win in a row when running out a 1 ¾-length winner of the feature race, securing yet another winner for James and Mickey Bowen. Midfield for much of the way, Art Of Diplomacy wasn’t always fluent through the opening two miles of the contest, throwing in the odd mistake to put himself around half a dozen lengths behind Pull Again Green (7/2) over five-out. As runaway leader Presentandcounting (5/2) threatened to get away from them, Art Of Diplomacy began to make minor headway over the third-last, still with around eight lengths to find as they rounded the home turn. However, building up a head of steam after jumping two-out, Art Of Diplomacy finally hit top gear between the final two fences, and despite a late rally from Pull Again Green, the new leader readily pulled out more in the end to provide Mickey Bowen with his 29th winner of the season!
Race 5 – Genesis Wealth Management Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle (Class 5, 3yo+, 2m ½f)
Unfancied in the market but impressive nonetheless, Dreams Fled Away (14/1) came home a stylish 5-length victor of the fifth race, landing the spoils for James Best and trainer Barry Brennan. Always in touch in the leading quartet, Dreams Fled Away sat in a share of fourth place for much of the first circuit, latching onto the heels of Guillaume (6/1) as Mr Globalist (18/1) set the pace. Travelling well enough but shunted along to get closer, Dreams Fled Away bumped his way into third place around the home turn, sneaking into contention behind the well-backed Monticello (8/13F) in second. Readily finding his feet on his way down to the second-last, Dreams Fled Away quickly found himself challenging for lead between the final two obstacles, and after meeting the last on a good stride, the new leader powered away up the run-in to score in style. Always reliable, James Best also won his second Grimthorpe Chase aboard Moroder in March!
Race 6 – Paul Ferguson Jumpers To Follow Handicap Hurdle (Class 3, 4yo+, 2m 7f)
Continuing his love affair with the track, Lipa K (7/1) recorded his fourth victory at Bangor-On-Dee in the sixth and final race of the day, edging home by ¾ of a length under Henry Brooke for the Greenall-Guerriero team. Held up in rear, Lipa K was kept out the back for much of the finale, never really involved until the rein was loosened as Doc McCoy (10/1) led the field over the third-last. Sticking to the back of the chasing group, Lipa K soon caught the eye around the turn into the straight, travelling strongly on the bridle as market leader Imperial Merlin (5/2F) began to toil. Squeezing through into second place after two-out, Lipa K didn’t take long to find his stride on the run down to the last, and after another tidy leap, the course specialist stayed on strongly to run down a valiant Doc McCoy and provide Henry Brooke with his 12th winner of the season!
Race report by Adam Perkins
