A sun-soaked Bangor-On-Dee hosted a competitive card for Virgin Bet Spring Into Racing Day in March 2026. The feature race came at 3:20pm in a valuable Class 2 contest, with the going ranging from Good, to Good To Soft on both tracks.
Race 1 – Alfa Aggregates Products Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4, 4yo+, 2m 3 ½f)
Consistent in recent starts, Tommy Pickles (6/4F) readily scored for the first time when successful in the opening race, keeping on well under Joe Anderson to score for trainer Jamie Snowden. Always to the fore through the first couple of miles, Tommy Pickles looked to be in trouble rounding the home turn for the final time. However, keeping on strongly for pressure, the 6-year-old gelding battled on gamely in the final furlong, challenging Mossy Fen Coolio (5/2) over two-out before kicking clear in fine style to score by 5 ½ lengths. Enjoying his best season yet, Jamie Snowden also scooped the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last week with Johnny’s Jury!
Race 2 – Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Handicap Hurdle (Class 3, 4yo+, 2m 7f)
Acting as pacesetter from the get-go, French Emperor (11/2) proved a tough nut to crack in the second race, running on strongly at the finish to hold on by a neck for James Best and Nicky Martin. Making all under a steady tempo, French Emperor was barely out of second gear for much of the contest, but after Lord Snootie (7/1) threatened to spoil the party with a late lunge over the last, the leader was made to pull out all the stops to cling on to victory. Operating at a superb 38% strike-rate, former Welsh Grand National-winning trainer Nicky Martin has 9 winners from just 24 runners this season!
Race 3 – Virgin Bet Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3, 5yo+, 3m)
Benefitting from a drop in class, Joyeux Machin (7/2) recorded his first win in three years when successful in the third race of the day, scooting clear to score by 10 lengths under Harry Atkins for trainer Dan Skelton. Keeping close tabs on the leaders, Joyeux Machin sat in prime position throughout Race 3, and after making a bid for the lead over two-out, the plucky 9-year-old extended clear in the final furlong to score for the second time over fences. On course to be Champion Trainer for the first time in his career, Dan Skelton today became the first trainer to win £4m in prize money during a single season!
Race 4 – Wrexham Lager Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 5, 4yo+, 2m7f)
Highlighting a remarkable upturn in form, Thereyare (10/1) grittily got off the mark under rules when taking the fourth race under Charlie Todd, gamely sticking his neck in a close finish to score for the Greenall-Guerriero team. Held up in last for much of the way,
Thereyare was only ever in front at the line in Race 4, making steady headway over the third-last before staying on stoutly down the home straight to deny An Buachaill Rua (100/30) a second consecutive victory. Enjoying a solid season, Charlie Todd’s highlight this year came when winning the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury aboard Heltenham!
Race 5 – Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap Hurdle (Class 2, 4yo+, 2m 3 ½f)
Scoring on his first start at the track, Static (2/1F) needed every yard of the trip to see off a plucky Knickerbockerglory (11/2) in the feature race of the day, landing the spoils for Charlie Maggs and Donald McCain by just a head. Leading from the outset, Static set a good pace to aim at through the opening two miles, and despite coming under pressure around the home turn, the 5-year-old youngster enough stamina in reserve to overcome a sustained battle with Knickerbockerglory down the home straight. With a career-best 31 winners so far this season, Charlie Maggs is now very close to riding out his claim!
Race 6 – Overton Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 4, 5yo+, 2m 1 ½f)
Off the mark at the 15th attempt two starts ago, Dj Pete (4/1) returned to the winners’ enclosure in fine style when taking the penultimate contest by 1 ½ lengths, securing a double for James Best and victory for Sarah-Jayne Davies. Fairly close to the pace for much of the way, Dj Pete travelled kindly until coming under a ride over the third-last, threatening to lose his pitch as Jiair Madrik (8/1) kicked for home. However, staying on well for pressure, Dj Pete ultimately had too much in hand in the final quarter mile, kicking clear of Epinephrine (7/2) to secure a 26th winner of the season for James Best!
Race 7 – Tom Jones Live At Chester Racecourse Handicap Hurdle (Class 5, 4yo+, 2m 3 ½f)
A combination of a wind operation, step up in trip, and starting out in handicaps proved to be just the ticket for Joeybottles (9/2) in the finale, the winner eventually hosing up by 10 lengths for Toby Wynne and the Greenall-Guerriero team. Travelling strongly from the outset, Joeybottles was a real eye-catcher in Race 7, hurdling well and moving nicely in between rivals. Moving up to challenge Rock Hurley (11/2) around the home turn, it was soon apparent that Joeybottles was in a league of his own, the eventual winner sailing by and moving well clear of Titanium Ring (9/2) towards the finish. In a season that has seen Toby Wynne ride out his claim, the young rider is now up to 17 winners for 2025/26!
Race report by Adam Perkins
