The upcoming jumps meeting at Bangor-on-Dee will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing this Tuesday, and it promises a compelling line‑up for fans of National Hunt racing. The headline attraction is the John Hewitt Memorial Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, where the seven‑year‑old Grade Two winner Roadlesstravelled will make his much‑anticipated debut over fences.
Roadlesstravelled arrived on the scene with a flawless start to his career, securing three victories from three starts in hurdle races, including a Grade Two novice hurdle win that marked him as a horse of genuine class. However, his form has not been a steady upward trajectory. After a disappointing performance in the Formby Novices' Hurdle in December 2024, where he was pulled up, the horse was switched to the flat for a spell.
That flat venture did not prove successful – he ran too keen in his most recent flat start – and now, after nearly four months away from obstacles, he is being given a fresh chance to prove his worth in the chase division. The connections, trainer Jonjo O'Neill and jockey AJ O'Neill, will be hoping that the horse’s previous experience over fences and his win in an Irish point‑to‑point back in May 2023 have left him in good condition. If they have managed to restore his fitness, Roadlesstravelled could be a solid contender in a field that includes several seasoned chasers. Among the rivals, Captain Cool stands out as the most experienced jumper on the card.
With a British Horseracing Authority rating of 131, he has a proven record over fences and will likely use his experience to dictate the pace of the race. His presence adds a benchmark for the younger horses, and he will be a key figure to watch as the race unfolds. Krak is another horse to keep an eye on.
Although he was beaten by ten lengths in his last outing, the performance suggested that the distance may have been beyond his optimum range. If the race is run at a slightly shorter trip, Krak could find the rhythm he needs to challenge the leaders. Ice In The Veins finished a distant 25 lengths behind Captain Cool in June, indicating a sizable gap in ability on that day. Nevertheless, a more favorable weight assignment and a more economical racing style could see him close that margin and become a more serious threat in the chase.
The meeting also features a Listed Criterium de Lyon, pitting San Giorgio against Master Man. San Giorgio, trained by Francis‑Henri Graffard, has shown steady improvement, taking a good position in his last race and finishing just behind the current French two‑year‑old champion Avec Toi. His second start, where he ran close behind a quality juvenile in Ciceron, hinted at significant potential.
His stablemate Be My Friend was only a place behind in that same race and has since claimed a victory at Vichy, suggesting that the pair could be a formidable duo with more experience under their belts. Master Man, on the other hand, has displayed a consistently solid form, winning two of his three starts to date. His performances set a high standard for the rest of the field and make him a genuine contender for the Listed title. Skyridge, who narrowly edged out Palais Byzantin in July, and Palais Byzantin themselves, are also expected to be competitive.
While they may lack the same developmental upside as the leading three horses, their recent form indicates they can hold their own in a tightly contested race. Beyond the chase, the programme includes a feature on the promising filly Hidden Fortune in the Paul Ferguson's Jumper To Follow Novices' Hurdle. Trained by Dan Skelton, the five‑year‑old broke her maiden over hurdles with an impressive win after two encouraging bumper runs.
Her debut victory highlighted her natural ability and suggested she could improve further over longer distances and on softer ground, making her a horse to watch as the season progresses. A strong challenger to Hidden Fortune is Provision, who also secured a maiden win with a ten‑length margin in his most recent outing. Although Provision may be considered a slightly less experienced rival, his dominant performance demonstrates the class needed to compete at this level.
Ride Like A Girl shares a similar profile with Provision and could rebound after a disappointing previous start, while Secret Beach is set to make his hurdle debut. Rated 78 on the flat, Secret Beach possesses a respectable level of form and, if he adapts well to the obstacles, could become a noteworthy newcomer. The card also includes an Auteuil meeting featuring nine races, among them a Listed contest, and a Lyon‑Parilly card that offers informative maiden races for developing talent. The final race of the day, scheduled for 4.38 pm at Bangor‑on‑Dee, will see Jiair Madrik take part in a tightly contested affair that promises to cap off a busy and exciting day of racing.
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