BANGOR-ON-DEE Racecourse's leading trainer Jonjo O'Neill had a festive season to remember.
He sent out 22 horses over Boxing Day and the weekend - and seven of them returned as winners.
They included Campaign Trail, successful at Bangor-on-Dee's last meeting eight days before Christmas, who reappeared on Boxing Day. Stepped up a grade in a valuable handicap hurdle at Wetherby, the five-year-old triumphed again for the fourth time in a row this season.
The two highlights for Jonjo O'Neill were Champion Hurdle prospect Intersky Falcon returning to winning ways at the big Kempton meeting on December 26, and World Wide Web beating 27 rivals at Leopardstown in Ireland the following day.
Intersky Falcon, fresh from defeating Champion Hurdler Rooster Booster, is now set fair for the principal hurdles race at Cheltenham in March, with his high-profile owners - who include ex-Liverpool footballer Terry McDermott - grasping 20-1 ante-post betting vouchers in eager anticipation.
World Wide Web, who was re-routed from the Welsh National at Chepstow to the Grade 2 chase in Ireland, may be in action again in a money-spinning race at Warwick on Saturday week.
Jonjo O'Neill will doubtless have more runners at Bangor-on-Dee's opening meeting of 2004 on Friday, February 13. He's won 30 times at the course in recent years, two more than current champion trainer Martin Pipe. More information is available on the website www.BangorOnDeeRaces.co.uk or contact the racecourse on 01978 780323.
The next racing at Chester Races is the May Festival in 2004. More information is available on the racecourse website www.chester-races.co.uk. The course can be contacted on 01244 304600.
