Emerald Isle enjoys benefits of two meets
Bath Racecourse enjoyed a double meeting this week, with trainers and their horses racing on both Friday and Tuesday.
The Emerald Isle was certainly smiling across the meetings with 12 of the 17 winners coming from Irish imports for the various trainers on the good track.
Friday’s meeting began in the evening, 4.30pm, and after winning with Hot Scoop here on July 2, trainer Jamie Osborne and jockey Nicola Currie were winners once again, this time with Alone Time. The 16/1 shot from Ireland was slow into her stride, but the chestnut filly took the lead inside the final furlong to win by two lengths.
The Signs Express Novice Stakes was only competed by four runners and Nigel Tinkler’s Irish import Star Prize too the top prize by one and a half lengths. Ridden by Faye Mcmanoman, it was the filly’s maiden victory in just her second race for Tinkler since switching from Noel Wilson.
Osborne returned for the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap with daughter Saffie aboard Crime of Passion, but they were beaten by half a length into second by 40/1 Irish shot Knight’s Gate. It proved the best result in recent times at Bath for trainer Rod Millman with the gelding, ridden by Charlie
Bennett, suiting the strong pace of the race.
It was four Irish winners from four when 15/2 chance Bay Watch edged out compatriot Haveoneyerself by a head. It was trainer Tracey Barfottsaunt’s first visit to Bath since the lockdown was lifted and instantly celebrating that decision with Charles Bishop on board for the geldings first win since August last year.
Longburton trainer Brian Barr saw his Toolatetodelegate finish second in the fifth race. That was won by Atty’s Edge, the 22/1 shot rode two and a half lengths clear to pick up a victory for Christopher Mason and jockey Nicola Currie.
Secret Return became the fifth Irish winner in the Visit valuerater.co.uk For Free Tips Handicap. In another tight affair, the 12/1 chance held on to win by a neck for Robyn Brisland and Paddy Bradley. That was followed by compatriot Songkran winning the 7.35pm affair by two lengths for George Boughey and jockey David Probert, making it two wins in six days for the bay gelding.
The final race on Friday was claimed by the Gary Moore trained Capricorn Prince. The 9/1 hopeful took the lead with over a furlong to go and was ridden by Hector Crouch to finish one and a quarter lengths ahead.
It was more of the same in Tuesday’s meetings, although the earlier start time of 12pm and good to firm ground seemed to be an advantage to the favourites. Paul Midgley’s Indian Sounds kicked things off, with the Irish 3/1 favourite beating compatriot Zulu Zander by two and a half lengths to follow up his victory at Bath on June 25, but this time ridden by Dougie Costello.
Fellow Irish favourite Bright Armor proved too good in the attheraces. com Maiden Auction Stakes, winning by four and three-quarter lengths for Clive Cox and Adam Kirby, earning the colt its first victory in three races.
The favourite for the third race was beaten by a neck, whilst also coming second by a neck, in the tightest of races. It was won by 16/1 chance Port Noir, trained by Grace Harris and ridden by Hollie Doyle. Doyle then made it two wins in two races as she steered Archie Watson’s Irish import Corinthia Knight to victory. In another tight affair, the 5/1 chance held off the challenge from Big Lachie to also come through by a neck.
Roger Varian had a good time at Bath on July 2, scoring a win and a second place, and scored another winner in the 2.05pm with 5/4 favourite Rideson. With Andrea Atzeni on board, the filly broke her maiden tag after six second places to be 80/1 chance Captain Claret by a length and three-quarters.
Harris scooped a double on the day with 10/1 Irish gelding Air of York. Ridden by Megan Nicholls, daughter of champion trainer Paul, they challenged inside the final furlong before claiming victory by three-quarters of a length.
Not to be outdone, Cox and Kirby also claimed a double on the day with Irish favourite Willy Nilly. In yet another close finish, the gelding held on to win by a head for his first victory.
In a four-horse race in the Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 535 Median Auction Maiden Stakes, it was threeyear-old French gelding Ridgeway who shook his maiden tag to earn trainer Eve Johnson Houghton and jockey Charles Bishop victory, the rider’s second across the two Bath meetings.
The final race of the meeting went to 6/1 Irish shot Deposit. Having earlier seeing Ilalliqa finish third, trainer David Simcock watched Dylan Hogan ride the gelding to its first victory by a length.
The next meeting at Bath is on Saturday with another on Wednesday. There are currently big fields in the running on Saturday, which is likely to be good to firm once again. Racing begins at 4.35pm with the final race at 8.05pm. It’s a 1.10pm start on Wednesday.