15:40 It is not very often that I say this but I am glad this afternoon is over, it has been a freezing cold afternoon to have to be working outside – all my extremities are numb and how I am typing this I do not know.

Our next live coverage will be from Ascot and at least I can look forward to it knowing I shall be working in decent, warm conditions.

From a cold Bangor it really does give me great pleasure to say good evening.

15:32 A bumper to finish off proceedings and previous winner Strokestown with Jason Maguire trying for a four timer, attempted to make all.

It was a ploy that almost paid off and he was only caught in the dying strides by Moorlands Terri from the Tim Vaughan yard.

The pair finished five lengths clear of the remainder, headed by Double Dash.

15:17 Well they ran the chases first to avoid problems with the sun, unfortunately the sun played a part in the final hurdle in what almost became a flat race as they only jumped five flights due to – yep the low sun!!!

Nick Schofield produced a very well timed run in this conditional jockeys’ race, bringing Naughty By Nature to the front approaching the last after tracking the leaders throughout.

The favourite Cordier looked to have every chance prior to Schofield launching his run and to make matters worse he was denied the runners up spot by a running on Doctor Robert.

14:36 I have a feeling that AP McCoy has not been too impressed by Jason Maguire riding a treble as he takes the fifth race to claim a double.

This time not on the outsider but on the 3/1 favourite The Very Man.

Maguire had an early impact in the race by setting the pace on Fair Question, however he ceded the lead turning for home with McCoy taking up the running and never being subsequently headed.

Mortimers Cross, under Richard Johnson looked booked for second place but Maguire managed to coax more out of Fair Question to grab the runners up spot by a head, two lengths behind the winner.

13:56 Well it is a good day at the office if your name is Jason Maguire and he is certainly having a better day than me as I am attempting to type this with fingers purple from the cold.

In the first of our hurdle races Mr Maguire has just bought the second favourite, Son Of Flicka home to record a hat trick and a double for Donald McCain.

Always with the pace and tracking the leader and uneasy favourite My Moment, Maguire finally took the lead between the final two flights and came home by 1½ lengths.

To rub salt into the favourite’s wounds another McCain runner, Fiendish Flame grabbed the runners up spot in a photograph. McCain also saddled the fourth home Colonel Potter.

13:27 A 3m 6f marathon for our final chase of the afternoon and those here in the winter chill were treated to a brilliant front running display from Bannister Lane, under Jason Maguire.

Sent off in front the Donald McCain trained runner set a steady pace and even when looking to be challenged by House Of Bourbon turning for home Maguire never panicked and held on to record a well deserved, brave, 2½ length victory.

It was a race when potential challengers came and went with House Of Bourbon, Money Line and New Perk in particular all looking to come with half decent challenges, yet none of them were able to head the leader.  

Co-owner Ginger McCain sees the winner as a potential national horse.

12:48 The first three races this afternoon are chases, to avoid problems with the low sun later on.

Another 2½ mile contest, this time with seven runners, although it turned out to be an eventful contest.

Always Baileys managed to unseat Sean Quinlan at the first, whilst up front Figurita and Lost In Normandy vied for the lead. A duel that was maintained until Figurita unseated at the ninth.

The favourite, Kikos, was soon challenging Lost In Normandy for the lead and favourite backers must have been smiling. Backers of Mixsterthetrixster, on the other hand, were less happy as he faded dramatically and was pulled up. (It was later revealed he had burst a blood vessel)

12:19 Only four runners in our first contest and a very open betting heat as well, with only 1¼ points separating the entire field.

Blazing Diva from the Charlie Mann yard was sent off the 9/4 favourite but favourite backers would have been worried early on as the jumping was iffy and the horse was never in contention and it was no surprise when Dave Crosse eventually pulled up.

The pace was set by Rathmulen and The Big Canadian, whilst AP McCoy was happy to drop back on the 7/2 “outsider” Firth Of Forth.

There was little change in the order until the favourite pulled up approaching four out. At which point Rathmulen started to drop out and McCoy bought his mount alongside the leader.

As they entered the home straight McCoy took Firth Of Forth into the lead and was never in any danger. Any remote chance The Big Canadian had of clawing back the deficit was lost as he ploughed through the last.

It isn’t often McCoy rides the outsider in a four runner race but his supporters were more than happy to collect.

Due to the configuration of the course it is not possible to provide times for any of this afternoons races.

11:40 Good morning from Bangor where the sun is trying to break through on a crisp Winters morning.

The going is Soft, good to soft in places on the hurdle course.

There are currently four non-runners.

Return to race archive:

Non-Runners

1:10
3 The Gangerman (Bad scope - SC)

2:55
14 Hiddensee (going)

3:25
5 king Raven (going)
6 Know Your Place (going)
8 Puddington Bear (dehydrated - SC)
12 Twinkers (Bad scope - SC)

Results

12:10

1st 1 Firth Of Forth 7/2
2nd 3 The Big Canadian 3/1
4 Ran
Distances 11l
Fav 4 Blazing Diva 9/4 (PU)
Tote
Win £4.50
Exacta £10.30
CSF £12.62

12:40

1st 4 Whitewater Dash 4/1
2nd 5 Lost In Normandy 11/2
7 Ran
Distances 5 & 5
Fav 1 Kikos 5/2 (4th)
Tote
Win £4.30
Place £2.50 £2.90
Exacta £23.20
CSF £25.29

1:10

1st 2 Bannister Lane 12/1
2nd 9 New Perk 13/2
3rd 8 Hidden Bounty 5/1 fav
13 Ran NR 3
Distances 2 1/2 & 1 1/2
Fav third
Tote
Win £12.70
Place £3.00 £2.60 £2.30
Exacta £119.40
CSF £85.98
Tricast £444.86

1:45

1st 13 Son Of Flicka 7/1
2nd 4 Fiendish Flame 25/1
3rd 1 My Moment 11/8 fav
15 Ran
Distances 1 1/2 & short head
Fav third
Tote
Win £2.50
Place £1.10 £5.70 £1.20
Exacta £39.40
CSF £47.52

2:20

1st 6 The Very Man 3/1 fav
2nd 5 Fair Question 7/1
3rd 7 Mortimers Cross 15/2
10 Ran
Distances 2 & head
Fav winner
Tote
Win £4.10
Place £1.80 £2.70 £2.30
Exacta £28.00
CSF £24.71
Tricast £144.99

2:55

1st 5 Naughty By Nature 10/1
2nd 10 Doctor Robert 4/1
3rd 1 Cordier 7/4 fav
13 Ran NR 13
Distances 2 3/4 & head
Fav third
Tote
Win £15.00
Place £4.80 £1.40 £1.20
Exacta £110.40
CSF £50.65
Tricast £108.25

3:25

1st 17 Moorlands Teri 9/2
2nd 1 Strokestown 4/1
3rd 3 Double Dash 66/1
14 Ran NR's 5, 6 , 8 & 12
Distances 1 1/2 & 5
Fav 10 & 15 7/2 (both upl)
Tote
Win £6.50
Place £1.90 £1.80 £6.40
Exacta £30.50
CSF £21.87