THE city is going racing in the country as Bangor-on-Dee hosts its first Ladies' Day for many years.

Brown's of Chester, the staff of Aintree Racecourse and Derek Hatton's media firm are at the North Wales racecourse on Friday, July 30 for the resumption of jump racing following the late spring and early summer break.

Although the official 2004/5 National Hunt season is already three months old, Bangor-on-Dee racegoers traditionally regard this meeting as the start of their season.

And ladies have every reason to look out their finest dresses for the occasion. For the one judged to be 'best turned out' will win a beauty hamper from Brown's of Chester, the department store associated with the ladies' evening hosted by Chester Racecourse every June.

A marquee with retail stands will offer ladies a range of beauty products from which to choose.

Aintree Racecourse is bringing its staff for a day out. Appropriately, the opening race - the Joanne Teare Birthday Juvenile Novices' Hurdle - marks a big day for the secretary to Aintree's clerk of the course Andrew Tulloch.

Rippleffect, the company formed by the former deputy leader of Liverpool City Council Derek Hatton and his son Ben five years ago, sponsors the penultimate race of the afternoon.

The feature event is the £8,000 Everyone's A Winner At Bangor Races Novices' Steeplechase, while the Beatty Trophy will once again be presented to the owner whose horse wins the David Manning Associates Novices' Handicap Steeplechase.

The day also sees the running of the novices' hurdle series qualifier - sponsored by Jewson builders' merchants - the final of which is run at Cheltenham Racecourse in October and concludes with the bangorondeeraces.co.uk Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.

Britain's top trainers and jockeys - including Martin Pipe and Richard Johnson who were Bangor-on-Dee's leading handler and rider in 2003-4 - are expected to be at the racecourse.

The meeting opens at 2.15pm and the last race is due off at 5.10pm. A free bus service runs from Wrexham Station to the racecourse at 12.45pm and returns after racing, racegoers with railway tickets having priority.

Admission to the Course Enclosure is £6 while the Paddock Enclosure is £13. Accompanied children enter free.

More information is available on the racecourse website www.BangorOnDeeRaces.co.uk or contact the course on 01978 780323.