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.

Bangor-on-Dee stages a really good seven-race card this Saturday. At the time of writing Ed Gretton lists the going as good to soft on both the chase and hurdle courses.

Racing comes under starter's orders at 2.30pm with the Unison Healthcare mares only claiming hurdle over two miles and a furlong. Jimmy Frost is a master at laying his horses out for these type of races. His charge Share My Dream (Nap) was impressive when beating White On Black on the bit last time out at Chepstow. The daughter of Shernazar will not mind cut in the ground. I would give Bambi from the Sue Smith yard a solid each way chance on her Perth form last season.

Leading Attraction looks a good thing for the two-and-a-half mile beginners chase. The Mister Mat gelding only went down by half a length at Taunton last time out after an absence of 17 months. Nicholls will have the gelding spot on for this race.The principal danger and my revised selection if the Nicholls horse is absent is the Peter Bowen trained Contact Dancer, who was an eyecatching runner-up to The Sawyer last time out at Chepstow. Also at Bangor-on-Dee Go Amwell (4.40) and Misty Dancer (4.05).

Alision Dare was the national champion point to point rider for more years than I can remember. She rode plenty of winners for trainer Dick Baimbridge. She has made a succesful start to her career as a trainer. If she runs Twenty Degrees, then I will not oppose the Beveled gelding. He was eighth to Amecelli in the Cheltenham Foxhunters at the Festival. Prior to that race he had beaten the useful Thisthatandtother. If absent then a small wager is recommened on the Richard Hewitt trained Le Seychellois.

Readers wishing to travel by train to this meeting should note that the racecourse runs a free bus service to the track from the Wrexham General Railway Station, which departs at 1pm; the return leg is at 6.05pm.

The Cheshire Hunt stage a good point to point meeting at Alpraham, near Tarporley, this Sunday. This a cracking day out for all the family. Admission is only £2 per car, regardless of the number of passengers, which represents excellent value for money; single occupancy is charged at £15. The first race is at 2pm and concludes at 5.40pm. Readers are advised to arrive early for this meeting as crowds of 10,000 are the norm if the weather is reasonable.

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