Perfect Bangor-on-Dee finale for racing's Tim Leslie

Shropshire racehorse owner Tim Leslie made his mark with a perfect finale on a royal afternoon at Bangor-on-Dee.

On the day the track on the Shropshire border welcomed the Princess Royal, Leslie's fast-growing partnership with Cholmondeley trainer Donald McCain yielded yet another victory when King's Grace claimed the concluding Newcomers National Hunt Flat Race.

That formed part of a fine treble for McCain, and he and farmer Leslie were then given a further boost when their star turn Peddlers Cross - a winner at both Cheltenham and Aintree festivals last spring - enjoyed a gallop at Bangor after racing.

The unbeaten hurdler is due to make his seasonal return in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle on Saturday, November 27.

"It was grand," said McCain. "He had a nice blow, it got the freshness out of him and he worked very nicely so I'm very happy.

"He's such a good work horse that I can't quite get the graft I need to into him at home as he does everything so easy."

Shropshire trainer Henry Daly also found himself in the winner's enclosure thanks to Safran De Cotte, but it proved a day to forget for young jockey Chris Timmons who made an awful error of judgement.

He looked a certainty to win Bangor's Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle aboard Jeanry as he went well clear over the final fence.

Timmons eased his mount down, believing the race was won, but was caught close home by Monsieur and his jockey Matt Griffiths.

"He said sorry," said Jim Whitehead, the trainer of Jeanry.

"He looked one way and couldn't see anything and then the other way and couldn't see anything, but somehow the other horse was coming up behind him.

"It was a silly mistake but he's very young. He is a good jockey and he'll ride for us again. It's one of those things — that's racing."

By JAMES GARRISON