Bath’s most-winning horse Blue Hero scoops 11th course victory

Blue Hero was victorious for the 11th time at Bath Racecourse when he won the closing contest at the Wurzels & Cider Race Night on Friday 31st July.

Blue Hero, trained by Adrian Wintle and ridden by Finley Marsh, won for the 11th time here at Bath Racecourse when successful in the finale on Friday 31st July | Photo © Richard Briggs

Trained by Adrian Wintle in Rodley, Gloucestershire, and ridden by Finley Marsh, the eight-year-old prevailed by a neck in the £6,600 Great Western Air Ambulance Handicap Stakes (Class 6) over one mile, two furlongs and 37 yards.

The triumph was the second of the meeting for Wintle and Marsh. And it took Wintle’s tally of successes at Bath to 33.

Runner-up to the 9/4 favourite was Offiah’s Boy (100/30), saddled by Joe Tickle (Stoodleigh, Devon) and with Taylor Fisher on board.

Blue Hero is the most-winning horse in Bath Racecourse’s history.

A spokesman for the Lansdown track said: “Eleven wins at Bath Racecourse – absolutely unreal.

“Blue Hero has done it again at Lansdown and we genuinely cannot believe what we are witnessing.

“Eleven victories at Bath Racecourse is the stuff of legends and this incredible horse just keeps on writing history.

“What a horse. What a record. Huge congratulations to all the connections.”

The opening £6,600 Big Stage Hire Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Stakes (Class 6), over one mile and six furlongs, was won very narrowly by 2/1 shot Belle Of Kt, cared for by Stan Moore in Upper Lambourn, Berkshire, and ridden by Scarlett Dorricott.

Second, by a nose, was Sea Of Charm (9/2), from Georgina Nicholls’ yard in Kingston Lisle, Oxfordshire, and with Henry Rain in the irons.

Next was the £10,000 Trusted Betting Site Reviews gambling.com British EBF Restricted Novice Stakes (Class 4) (EBF Restricted Race Qualifier), over five furlongs and 160 yards.

Havana Gift, the 2/1 favourite under Warren Fentiman, took the honours by half a length for North Yorkshire-based handlers John Quinn and Sean Quinn.

The runner-up was 9/2 fancy Texas Crown, sent out by Daisy Hitchins (Longburton, Dorset) and piloted by Luke Catton.

The third contest, the £6,600 Bath Rum & Reggae Race Night 15th August Classified Stakes (Class 6) (Bath Summer Sprint Series Qualifier) over five furlongs and 160 yards, was another tight affair – and it enabled Wintle and Marsh to complete the first leg of their respective doubles on the night.

Wintle-trained Jackie Brown, the 15/8 favourite urged on by Marsh, passed the post first by a nose from second-placed Symbol Of Hope (17/2).

The runner-up was prepared by Grace Harris in Shirenewton, Monmouthshire, and ridden by Callum Hutchinson.

The fourth race – the £8,000 Compare Betting Sites At gambling.com Restricted Novice Stakes (Class 5) over five furlongs and 160 yards – was won by 5/6 favourite Honky Tonk Girl.

The margin of victory was two-and-a-quarter lengths, Kodicall (3/1) coming home second.

Honky Tonk Girl was trained by Oliver Cole in Whatcombe on the Berkshire/Oxfordshire border and partnered by Mason Paetel.

Kodicall was sent out by Moore and had Fisher aboard.

Seven-year-old Nordic Glory triumphed in the penultimate contest, the £6,600 Thank You To Great Western Air Ambulance Handicap Stakes (Class 6) over five furlongs and 160 yards.

The 9/2 chance – from Michael Attwater’s stables in Epsom, Surrey, and steered by Owen Lewis – won by half-a-length from second-placed Beerwah (100/30), under Fentiman and trained by the Quinns.

Going was firm.

After racing, legendary West Country band The Wurzels played live – their 19th year of performing at the course.

Writing in the race card, Bath executive director Hannah Chree praised the team at the course for producing an excellent surface in difficult weather conditions.

She wrote: “The recent spell of hot weather has presented its challenges and I would like to thank our dedicated grounds team, who have worked around the clock alongside our clerk of the course Ben Hicks to ensure we are able to provide a safe, consistent racing surface for both horses and riders.

“Their commitment and professionalism behind the scenes deserve enormous credit.”

The next meeting at Bath will be the Rum & Reggae Race Night on Saturday 15th August.

There will be a six-race card starting at 5.46pm, followed by live reggae music and a DJ.

Tickets are available here.