Doubles for jockeys
Crouch and Keniry enjoy Bath meeting
Racing returned to Bath on Saturday for a fifth meeting since the sport was allowed to return behind closed doors.
There were eight races on the card and after a rather open first half to the meeting, it was closer to business as normal from last week’s meetings as Irish imports returned to claim the final four races. Whilst there were eight different winning trainers, jockeys Hector Crouch and Liam Keniry scored doubles on the day.
The racing began at 4.35pm for the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Median Auction Stakes and 11/1 chance Secret Handsheikh, trained by Archie Watson and ridden by Adam Mcnamara, challenged throughout before taking the lead during the final 110 yards and going to win by half a length.
It was just the second race for the two-year-old bay colt, after finishing tenth of 11 at Redcar last month, and was Watson’s second win at Bath this month after Corinthia Knight struck Tuesday a week previous.
The first Irish import to claim victory on the day was Tracey Barfootsaunt’s Bay Watch. The 100/30 shot, ridden by Tyler Heard, was slowly into its stride at the rear before switching right and ran well for the final 110 yards to earn the win by a neck. This was the six-year-old’s second consecutive win after also claiming success at Bath on July 10, the only two races run by the bay gelding this year.
One of only two favourites to win on the day, Bold Decision was the first winner for Crouch in the visitbath. co.uk Classified Stakes. Tony Carroll’s 15/8 runner was largely in midfield before making headway two furlongs out and led with just over a furlong to go. After running clear, the pair came home by two and three-quarter lengths.
It was the first win for the four-yearold bay gelding, while for Carroll it was his first win at Bath in recent times after only being able to claim a couple of thirds beforehand.
Devils Roc claimed her first victory since September, which also came at Bath, for Jonathan Portman in the Signs Express Fillies’ Handicap. Ridden by Gabriele Malune, the 9/1 chance was initially towards the rear before making good headway to chase the leaders and move ahead with over a furlong to go. The pair ran on well and claimed victory by three and a quarter lengths.
The Irish revolution began in the Sky Sports Racing Virgin 535 Handicap with 5/2 shot City Walk providing the second win for Crouch. Trained this time by Saeed bin Suroor, the three-year-old bay colt was also recording his first win of a four race career. Again at the rear to begin with, the pair tracked the leaders before taking the lead a furlong out to readily win by four and a half lengths.
In a five horse affair for the valuerater.co.uk Handicap, 5/2 Irish import Singing The Blues was a comfortable six length winner for trainer Rob Millman and jockey Daniel Muscutt. It was the bay gelding’s first win since May, also at Bath, while Millman struck here with Knight’s Gate on July 10.
Lovers’ Gait made it three consecutive Irish winners for trainer Daniel Kubler. Ridden by Keniry, the 16/1 option was taken down early and made all to win by four lengths. Again, it was the first victory for the threeyear-old bay filly in her four race career.
Keniry made it a quick-fire double aboard Neil Mulholland’s 100/30 Irish favourite Hidden Depths. After a steady start and being held up in the rear, the pair tracked the leaders before leading with over a furlong to go and claiming victory by one and three-quarter lengths. It was also the first win for the five-year-old bay gelding. Racing also took place yesterday at Bath for another nine races. The 1.10pm was won by 6/4 favourite One Day for trainer Roger Charlton and jockey Jason Watson, with 28/1 shot Heartstar earning victory in the 1.40pm for trainer John Mackie and daughter of champion trainer Paul Nicholls, Megan, before the Bath Chronicle went to press.
Bath’s next meeting is in two weeks’ time on August 6, with the first race off at 2.10pm.