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.

Racecourse manager Jeannie Chantler was reflecting on a busy period at the course when I spoke to her earlier in the week. She said: "It has been a busy time at Bangor. If you think back to our point to point meeting here, then we have raced every week for the last four weeks. Our ground staff have done a tremendous job to put the course spot on for every one of our meetings, and it will get even busier for our clerk of the course, Ed Gretton, as it is three days at Chester next week. I am pleased with our entry at the five-day stage. It looks very good, and I am delighted to see that most of the races on our card are supported by sponsors who have been with us for many years.

The Chester-based clerk lists the going as good to soft on both the hurdle and chase courses, at the time on writing.

Racing comes under starter's orders at 6pm with the Red Cross Week Selling Handicap hurdle over two-and-a-half miles.Cholmondley's Donald McCain Jnr, who was champion trainer at the course last season, has a slender lead over Jonjo O'Neill with only two meetings left to the end of the season at the North Wales course. He can get readers off to a good start with Miltrash (Nap) in the opener - the Darshan gelding looked all over the winner last week at the course before making a complete horlicks of the second last hurdle, which cost him all momentum and the race.

McCain Jnr has an excellent chance of completing a double with Investment Affair in the Rose Hill Novices chase. His charge finished runner-up to Billesey last time out at Huntingdon. The John Fox trained Inn For The Dancer ran out an easy winner last time out by six lengths at Plumpton - definitely one for the short list.

Alan King has a good record at the North Wales course and his charge Spare Cash is bound to go off the welll-supported jolly after his 29 lengths demolition of Double Intuder at Uttoxeter two weeks ago in the Northernracingclub.com novices hurdle. The principal danger and my selection is the Phillip Hobbs trained Bluegun, who was very impressive when beating Adroit Approach by four-and-a-half lengths at Uttoxeter last time out.

The feature race on the card is the 13,000gns Wynnstay Hunt Supporters Club handicap chase over two-and-a-half miles. Horses for courses definitely applies to Bangor-on-Dee. The Ian Williams charge Lysander was a very easy winner at the course, and was going well before unseating at Ayr two weeks ago. He had the Jonjo O'Neill trained Alright Now M'Lad 29 lengths behind him at Bangor, but the latter bolted up at Stratford a fortnight ago, beating Aleron by seven lengths.

The most popular race on the card is the James Griffith Memorial novices hunters chase. The race is named after the rider from Trefnant who was tragically killed in a car accident a few years ago. Many readers will remember the prolific winning hunter chaser Eastern Destiny that was trained by his mother Jill at Trefnant. It is difficult to see past the Jonjo O Neill trained Its Like That, who was runner-up to Joe Blake at the Punchestown festival 12 months ago. The best of the home team could be the Gary Hamner trained Proud Andees, an easy winner at the Flint and Denbigh meeting at Bangor last month. Another interesting runner with strong each way claims is the Sheila Crow trained Kong King, who won in a snow blizzard at Tabley earlier in the month.

The Getting Out Stakes at 8.30pm is the Up For The Cup Handicap Hurdle over two miles and a furlong. James Bethell is a trainer that you normally associate with the flat, but he has entered Little Bob in the race, and gets a 7lb penalty after his Perth win. McCain Jnr is expecting his charge Tragic Ohio to run well and on his recent form he has strong each way claims Bangor-on-Dee will be running their usual free bus services to the course, leaving the Wrexham General Railway Station at 4.30pm; the return leg is at 8.50pm.

The first classic of the flat season takes place at Newmarket this Saturday, with the fillies 1000gns over a mile.This race can head back across the Channel to France with Pascal Barry's filly Natagora, who was impressive when winning the Cheveley Park Stakes last October.