Family Fun Day

A day where records were broken, faces were painted, and the sun shone, Family Fun Day ticked all the boxes in August 2025. The feature race of the day came in the Queensferry Stakes (Listed), on ground ranging between Good and Good To Firm.

Race 1 – Family Fun Day Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 4, 3yo+, 1m 4 ½f)

A winner here in June, Ghaiyya (9/2) repeated the feat in determined style when returning a narrow winner of the first race, scrambling home by ¾ of a length for Joe Fanning and Charlie Johnston. Always prominent to the outside of Mafting (16/5), Ghaiyya helped to set a good gallop out in front through the opening mile, racing a length clear of recent course runner-up Kokinelli (11/2) with half a mile to go. Swinging around the home bend still full of running, Ghaiyya was set alight by his rider at the two-furlong marker, and after managing to sneak a couple of lengths clear at the furlong pole, the leader ran on well to see out a tidy victory. Ever consistent, Johnston & Fanning also scored at Listed level in May with both Francophone and Madame Ambassador!

Race 2 – British EBF Newcomers’ Maiden Stakes (GBB/IRE Incentive Race) (Class 4, 2yo, 7 ½f)

Well found in the market, Laazm (5/4F) rewarded his supporters with a plucky ½ length victory in the second race, always doing enough at the finish to score for P J McDonald and Andrew Balding. Another to race up with the pace, Laazm raced towards the outer of Emerald Coast (4/1) in the early stages of the contest, latching onto the leader’s coattails as Lopeo (11/4) occupied the rail. Seemingly with plenty left in the tank, Laazm moved with real purpose as the leaders came towards the home turn, his jockey motionless in the saddle with two furlongs to go. Nudged along entering the straight, Laazm really came to life down the home straight, and despite a late flourish from Moment Of Light (6/1), was always in charge towards the finish. A team enjoying a good spell, McDonald & Balding also won the John Smith’s Cup last month with Fox Legacy!

Race 3 – Bridgman Nursery Handicap (Class 5, 2yo, 7f)

A solid second when last seen on the Roodee, the Craig Lidster-trained Ubetterseethis (12/1) went one step further when scoring by a neck in the third race, gutsy in the closing stages to provide a quickfire double for P J McDonald. In amongst the chasing vanguard for much of the way, Ubetterseethis was never too far away from the action, racing in a share of third place at the halfway point with Somebody (3/1F) and Sporting Light (100/30) ahead of him. Ridden along around the turn into the straight, Ubetterseethis looked in need of a turn of foot at the two-furlong marker, Sporting Light now pressing home the advantage. However, rallying under a strong drive, Ubetterseethis really found his second wind in the final furlong, coasting home down the centre of the track to deny Sporting Light and Lucky Hero (7/2) in another close finish. Into just his fifth season as a trainer, Craig Lidster had 34 winners last year at solid 10% strike-rate!

Race 4 – Queensferry Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1, 3yo+, 6f)

A legend in his own right, Roman Dragon (16/1) delivered a record-breaking seventh win on the Roodee when a brilliant winner of the Queensferry Stakes, holding on bravely by a nose to score for Jason Watson and Hugo Palmer. Strongly ridden out of the starting stalls, Roman Dragon quickly found himself in prime position at the first turn, leading the way by a length to The Strikin Viking (25/1) as Celandine (5/4F) hugged the rail in third place. Tanking along at the head of affairs, Roman Dragon soon nicked couple of lengths on his rivals coming towards the home turn, slipping the field with two furlongs to go as Celandine gave chase. Rousted along, Roman Dragon fought on bravely in the final furlong, and although joined on the line by a rallying Celandine, the Roodee hero just did enough to bag the all-time course record. Well and truly cementing himself in our history, Roman Dragon has certainly repaid the faith of local owner Nick Hughes!

Race 5 – Oktoberfest Season Finale On 20^th September Classified Claiming Stakes (Class 4, 3yo+, 7 ½f)

Despite a wide berth in Stall 12, Abduction (9/2) pulled out all the stops to run out a gallant winner of Race 5, sticking his neck out to land the spoils for Shay Farmer and Jim Goldie. Racing wide but tucked in behind the chasing pack, Abduction clung to the outside of Bellarchi (8/1) for much of the way, the pair racing a couple of lengths behind Spirit Genie (11/2) as Capital Guarantee (17/2) led the field into the final quarter mile. Still kept widest of all but travelling well enough, Abduction merely had to be nudged along to get competitive after negotiating the home turn, and after a clear pathway presented itself down the outside of Spirit Genie, the 7-year-old veteran really came home well in the closing stages to hold off Bellarchi towards the line. A second win of the season for Dab Hand Racing, the winning owners also enjoyed success here in 2009 when subsequent dual Group 1 winner Regal Parade was victorious in the City Plate!

Race 6 – Inkerman London Handicap (Class 2, 3yo+, 7f)

A progressive handicapper on the rise, Palmar Bay (5/2) returned a stylish winner of the sixth race, extending away impressively by 2 ½ lengths in the closing stages to take first prize for Rossa Ryan and Ralph Beckett. Travelling strongly throughout, Palmar Bay sat in the slipstream of former course winner Flaming Rib (5/1) for the most part, sticking to the inside rail as Bobby Bennu (2/1F) and He’s A Monster (10/1) moved further forward with around three furlongs to run. Still on the bridle and really catching the eye, it looked only a matter of time before Palmar Bay was unleashed around the home turn, and with the gaps falling nicely at the cutaway, Rossa Ryan pushed his mount into an easy lead passing the furlong pole, the leader eventually coming home well clear of his rivals. A perfect day for Robert Ng, the winning owner also combined with Ralph Beckett for Listed victory at Ascot with Di Fede, who also happens to be the dam of Palmar Bay!

Race 7 – Christmas Parties At Chester Racecourse Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 4, 3yo+, 1m 2 ½f)

The most impressive winner of the day, the Richard Fahey-trained Glistening Nights (11/2) put on a sparkling performance in the finale when scooting home by 4 lengths, cruising clear to score under a confident ride from Barry McHugh. Moving nicely through the first mile of the contest, Glistening Nights raced in third for the majority of the seventh and final race, sitting a couple of lengths behind Mister Daydream (12/) as Risen Again (6/1) pulled hard out in front. Making smooth headway into second place on the run towards Castle Bend, Glistening Nights appeared to have plenty left in the tank, moving with ease around the turn as Risen Again came under a ride. Ridden into the lead and rapidly extending away, Glistening Nights was in a league of his own in the final furlong, easily seeing off the challengers to provide Barry McHugh with his first winner on the Roodee since returning from injury in May; congratulations, Barry!

Race report by Adam Perkins