BOTH local racecourses have scheduled meetings this weekend, beginning at 2.15pm this afternoon when a competitive card takes place at Bangor-on-Dee and all the top trainers hold entries.
And on Sunday, Chester's Family Funday has a first race time of 2.20pm.
The feature race at Bangor-on-Dee is the £8,000 Everyone's A Winner at Bangor Races Novices' Chase over an extended two-and-a-half miles.
Locally-trained River Mere is in good heart with a win and second place at Uttoxeter over the last four weeks. Xellance finished second in his chasing debut at Newton Abbot and should improve for that run. First Ballot has a treble to his name this season and is capable of preventing Undeniable a follow-up to his victory at Uttoxeter.
Racing begins with the two-miles one-furlong Joanne Teare Birthday Novices' Hurdle. Several entries compete over hurdles for the first time and previous jumping experience will be advantageous. Desert Tommy, allocated joint top-weight, and Taranai were both long-priced winners last time out and should be in the frame again today, with preference given to Taranai.
Several entries in the Jewson Novices' Hurdle (Series Qualifier) have recent winning form and this is a competitive race. Dawton carried top weight to victory at Perth on July 1 and Alroyal was a winner last time out at Uttoxeter. Ferzao is lightly raced and recorded his first success at Southwell this month. Tulipa has a sequence of wins and may just find
Selvas, who won at Market Rasen earlier this month, a tough opponent.
The Jonjo O'Neill-trained In Discussion gave 12lbs in weight to the winner when defeated by six lengths over hurdles at Market Rasen last time out, and makes a transition to larger obstacles in the David Manning Associates Novices' Handicap Chase.
With a previous chasing win at Worcester in a fast time, Manoram has been consistent and could notch up a second successive victory here. Macgyver steps up in class following success over fences at Southwell and should receive a 7lbs allowance.
In the Rippleffect Handicap Hurdle, San Marco has all the right credentials for selection with a good win at Stratford on July 18. Kalambari won the following race and, stepping up in class, will be held up to repeat that win. Other entries, Miss Skippy and Uncle Max also ran on the same day, finishing second and fourth respectively. With little to choose between several entries, San Marco gets the nod to defy a 7lbs penalty.
Racing concludes with the bangorondeeraces.co.uk Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle covering a trip of three miles. Dark Slaney was an easy 16-lengths winner of a selling handicap hurdle at Cartmel two weeks ago and, despite carrying more weight here, the nine-year-old should give another good account of himself.
Palisander, trained by Richard Ford at Little Budworth, rarely runs a bad race and was third over the larger obstacles at Cartmel. Caroline Hurley gets on well with the gelding and they will be a popular choice.
The feature race at Chester on Sunday is the Cheshire Life Queensferry Stakes over six furlongs. Given a low draw, Celtic Mill may return to winning form in this listed event.
True Knight and Nashaab are shortlisted for the Halliwell Jones BMW - Mile Handicap.
