Milestone for Carroll and double for Marquand as racing returns

Racing returned to Bath with a bang on Wednesday 2nd September, an eight-race card producing thrilling action, a 40th success at the course for handler Tony Carroll and a double for jockey Tom Marquand.

Racing returned to Bath on Wednesday 2nd September after the dry summer forced the transfer of the two previous fixtures scheduled for the Lansdown track | Photo © Richard Briggs

With the previous two meetings at the Lansdown track transferred to Lingfield Park and Wolverhampton respectively because of the dry summer, the fixture was Bath’s first since The Wurzels & Cider Race Night on Friday 31st July.

The opening £8,000 Bath Country Race Day, What A Way To Make Weekend! EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes (Class 5) (EBF Restricted Race Qualifier), over five furlongs and 160 yards, was won by the 25/1 favourite, Etienne.

Trained by Richard Spencer in Newmarket, Suffolk, and ridden by Saffie Osborne, Etienne prevailed by four-and-a-half lengths from runner-up Polly The Sniper, a 33/1 shot sent out by Tom Dascombe (Upper Lambourn, Berkshire) and piloted by William Cox.

There was an 11/1 winner in the second race, The Welsh Power 20th Anniversary Handicap Stakes (Class 6) (Bath Summer Sprint Series Qualifier) (Div I), over five furlongs and 160 yards.

Rinky Tinky Tinky – saddled by Ilka Gansera-Leveque (Newmarket) and with Alice Bond aboard – took the honours by a neck from second-placed The Feminine Urge (5/1), from the Grace Harris yard at Shirenewton, Monmouthshire, and urged on by Ashley Lewis.

The third contest, The Welsh Power 20th Anniversary Handicap Stakes (Class 6) (Bath Summer Sprint Series Qualifier) (Div II) over five furlongs and 160 yards, brought victory for 3/1 favourite Geemann, under Taylor Fisher for handler Joe Tickle (Stoodleigh, Devon).

Second, two lengths behind, was 6/1 fancy Honour Your Dreams, trained by Michael Attwater (Epsom, Surrey) and partnered by Kieren Fox.

Carroll – whose stables are at Cropthorne near Pershore, Worcestershire – scored in the fourth race, The Trusted Betting Site Reviews gambling.com Handicap Stakes (Class 6) over five furlongs and 10 yards.

Luke Morris was in the irons as the Carroll-trained Recon Mission passed the post first at 9/1.

Runner-up, by a neck, was Fancy Dancer (11/2), trained by Hayley Boulton in Newmarket and ridden by Osborne.

The fifth race, The Bath Country Race Day, Running 9 Till 5 Handicap Stakes (Class 6) over one mile and six furlongs, was also a close affair, decided by a head.

The winner was Fram Castle (100/30), cared for by Michael Wigham in Newmarket and with Alexandra Egan on board.

Just behind was Basilette (2/1), from the Seamus Mullins camp in Wilsford-cum-Lake, Wiltshire, and steered by George Downing.

The sixth contest, the one-mile Regal Gaming Grand Gallop Handicap Stakes (Class 6), so nearly produced a 12th victory at Bath for course specialist Blue Hero (12/1).

The track’s most-winning horse – trained by Adrian Wintle at Rodley, Gloucestershire, and with Joe Leavy riding – was second, by a short head, to winner Buckland Belle, the 5/6 favourite.

Buckland Belle was prepared by Ollie Sangster in Marlborough, Wiltshire, and guided by Marquand.

Marquand completed his double in the penultimate race, the £20,000 British EBF Fillies’ Handicap Stakes (Class 4) over one mile, three furlongs and 137 yards, when he piloted Pierian (11/4) to a one-and-a-half length success for handler William Haggas (Newmarket).

Second was 9/2 chance Asset, ridden by Morris for trainer Sir Mark Prescott (Newmarket).

The closing Compare Betting Sites At gambling.com Handicap Stakes (Class 6) was won by 7/4 favourite Belle Amie, from David Simcock’s stables in Newmarket and with Callum Shepherd taking the ride.

Runner-up, two-and-a-half lengths adrift, was Shaffron (4/1), trained by David Menuisier in Pulborough, West Sussex, and giving Osborne another second place on the day.

In overcast conditions, with some rain, going was good (good to firm in places) changing to good after the sixth race.

The team at Bath Racecourse are now preparing for the two-day meeting being held on Saturday 12th September (Absolute Country) and Sunday 13th September (family-friendly fixture).

There will be a seven-race card, starting at 1.20pm and followed by live country music, on 12th September. Tickets can be bought here.

And on 13th September there will be a seven-race card getting under way at 2.05pm. Tickets are available here.