Favourites on top in races
Bath enjoyed nine races during its sixth meeting of the new season last Wednesday.
The favourites largely reigned supreme once more, with five of the nine picks coming home as expected. That began with 6/4 favourite One Day who won by a length for trainer Roger Charlton and jockey Jason Watson to claim a maiden victory for the filly.
There was local success in the second race as Megan Nicholls, daughter of champion trainer Paul of Ditcheat near Shepton Mallet, rode 28/1 chance Heartstar to victory in the first division of the visitbath.co.uk Handicap. Trained by John Mackie, the pair came home by a neck ahead of favourite Q Twenty Boy for the filly’s first win.
Trainer Robyn Brisland and jockey William Carson managed a double, beginning with 4/1 chance Pull Harder Con in the second division of the Handicap. They finished just a head of Amberine for a second consecutive victory for the colt.
The bath.co.uk Handicap was claimed by 9/4 favourite Motagally. Trained by Charles Hills and ridden by Jim Crowley, they finished two and a quarter lengths ahead for a first victory since October. Evens favourite Lehwaiyla was the next home, three-quarters of a length winner for Sir Michael Stoute and jockey David Probert. It was the maiden victory for the filly.
It became three favourites in a row after Eve Johnson Houghton’s 5/4 shot Alezan came home by two and three quarter lengths. Ridden by Georgia Dale, it was another maiden victory after two seconds in five previous races for the filly.
Brisland and Carson completed their double in the Signs Express Classified Stakes. Irish import Essgee Nics was a 15/2 chance and edged out Longburton trainer Brian Barr’s Johni Boxit by a nose for the seven-year-old gelding to also lose his maiden tag. In another close race, trainer David Evans saw Rossa Ryan ride 11/4 shot Derry Boy by a head. It continued the pattern of horses winning their first races.
The meeting ended as it began as 11/10 favourite Hidden Depths was a length and three-quarter winner. Neil Mulholland’s Irish import was ridden by Liam Keniry for a second consecutive win after victory at Bath four days before.
Racing returns to Bath next Thursday for another eight race meeting. The action begins at 2.10pm, with the final race off at 5.40pm.