The Wynnstay Hunt

3:43pm Wednesday 30th April 2008

I thought as a change from the normal racing diary column that I would concentrate on the entire card at this Friday's evening meeting at Bangor-on-Dee. This, the third concecutive fixture in as many weeks at the course, is traditionally known as the "Wynnstay Hunt" meeting. The racecourse recognises its strong links with the Wynnstay Hunt, which traces its roots back to the very first meeting at the course on Tuesday February 25, 1859.

Racing Diary April 16

11:10am Wednesday 16th April 2008

THREE listed races at last Saturday's all-weather meeting at Kempton was a good standard for the emergence of the flat season proper. Hopefully readers took my advice that the Sir Michael Stoute trained Heaven Sent was a good thing for the Snowdrop Stakes. The daughter of Pivotal showed her class to overcome a bad draw in one, but she won going away to beat Chantilly Tiffany by two-and-a-quarter lengths. This was the mare's first time on the sand and she handled the surface impeccably. All her stock get better with age. One would have to think that the Dahlia or the Princess Elizabeth Stakes was a strong possibbility now.

Racing diary April 9

11:30am Wednesday 9th April 2008

It is a case of after the Lord Mayor's show this weekend after three fabulous days' racing of the highest quality at Aintree. As for my Grand National selections, Snowy Morning finished third at 16-1, Slim Pickings fourth at 10-1, Bewleys Berry fifth at 12-1 (a few bookmakers did pay out on the fifth).

Grand National preview

10:35am Wednesday 2nd April 2008

THE Aintree Grand National is the greatest steeplechase in the world; it is the theatre of dreams and the maker of legends.There is no more tense moment in the whole of the racing calendar than when the field for John Smith's Grand National lines up at Liverpool on Saturday to await the starter's flag. Ahead of the horses and riders are four miles and 856 yards of racing over the most famous fences in the world - The Chair, Bechers and Valentines are household names even to the non-racing public, who quite often just have the one bet a year on this race. And in the comparatively short time that will elapse before the massive crowd cheers home the winner, who knows what excitement and disappointment will have taken place?

Racing Diary March 26

9:28am Wednesday 26th March 2008

BANGOR-ON-DEE is one of my favourite racecourses. The North Wales course traces its roots way back to the first meeting there on Tuesday February 25, 1859.The only real changes that have come about in that time are the construction of the hurdle course in 1947, the water jump was removed a few years ago and three years ago a new point to point course was built at the racecourse by the current clerk of the course, Ed Gretton - this replaced the Eaton Hall venue, near Chester, which had previously raced since 1963.

Racing Diary March 19

10:32am Wednesday 19th March 2008

Your man was in sparkling form last week with his Cheltenham Festival Diary, with Alberta's Run 4-1, Masterminded 3-1, Inglis Drever 11-8, Denman 9-4 and Kasbah Bliss e/w second at 9-1.

Point to Point at Bangor on Dee this Sunday

11:33am Wednesday 5th March 2008

The Sir W W Wynn Hunt have attracted a bumper entry of 209 for their fixture between the flags this Sunday, March 9 at Bangor on Dee racecourse. Because of the large number of entries declared the Open Maiden and the Novice Riders race has been divided, making a total of nine races on the afternoon. Normally this meeting has 35 minutes between races, but with a nine race card, the times have been reduced to 30 minutes between each contest.

Did you take the 10-1?

4:44pm Tuesday 4th March 2008

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DIARY Hopefully readers committed to backing Donald McCain's Cloudy Lane for the Aintree Grand National on April 5 heeded my advice and took the 10-1 prior to easy victory in the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster last Saturday at 100-30. My selection was available at 7-2 on course, and as a result is now a skinny 6-1 ante post favourite for the Liverpool National. I spoke to his trainer at Bangor on Dee races last Sunday and he confirmed that he came out of the race in good heart. He also confirmed that his charge would improve from his victory at Doncaster.

Racing Diary February 27

10:09am Wednesday 27th February 2008

AFTER this Saturday's meetings there will only be 10 days to go before the start of the Cheltenham Festival, which to me and National Hunt enthusiasts all over the world is the greatest four days' racing of the year, with the exception of the Liverpool Grand National, which is over four-and-a-half miles. There is a championship race for every type of horse over every distance.

A 17-2 winner at Haydock

4:23pm Wednesday 20th February 2008

Last Saturday's Haydock Park meeting was littered with Cheltenham Festival and Aintree Grand National trials. The recent dry spell had dried out the ground and the going was officially good to soft.

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