Thrilling finishes and family fun at Bath’s bank-holiday meeting

Quality racing with thrilling finishes combined with a host of family entertainment at Bath Racecourse’s meeting on Monday 4th May.

Birds of prey and a rock choir formed part of the off-track entertainment at Bath Racecourse’s exciting meeting on Monday 4th May | Photo © Richard Briggs

The Bank Holiday Family Fun Day at the Lansdown track featured an eight-race card plus attractions such as face painting, a climbing wall, a rock choir and birds of prey.

The opening £10,000 Lee Shaughnessy 60th Birthday Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Stakes (Class 6), over one mile, was won by 8/1 shot Man Is King, trained by David Flood at Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, and ridden by Louise Chance.

The seven-year-old beat runner-up Amathus – from Patrick Chamings’ yard at Baughurst, Hampshire, and with Fred Tett on board – by two-and-a-half lengths.

A close winner of the second race, the £12,000 Blast Event Hire EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes (Class 3) (EBF Restricted Race Qualifier) over five furlongs and 10 yards, was 13/8 favourite Jolly Good Fellows, piloted by Jack Doughty.

Trained by Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole at Elmbridge, Worcestershire, Jolly Good Fellows prevailed by a neck from second-placed Ron’s Angel, cared for by John Butler at Newmarket, Suffolk, and with Callum Hutchinson in the irons.

Next was the £22,000 Blackmore Building Contractors Handicap Stakes (Class 3), also over five furlongs and 10 yards – and it produced victory by three-quarters of a length for 5/1 chance Regal Envoy.

It was a Newmarket one-two. Both Regal Envoy, partnered by Taylor Fisher, and runner-up Sturlasson, urged on by William Carson, are trained in Newmarket – by William Knight and John Ryan respectively.

The fourth contest, the £12,000 Pins And Putts Handicap Stakes (Class 5) over five furlongs and 10 yards, was another close affair, Over Spiced (3/1) getting the verdict by a neck for handler Grace Harris (Shirenewton, Monmouthshire) and jockey Ashley Lewis.

Second was 6/4 favourite Toolatetonegotiate, from Daisy Hitchins’ camp at Longburton, Dorset, and with Millie Wonnacott aboard.

The winning margin in the fifth race, the £10,000 Carers Centre Charity Handicap Stakes (Class 6) (Bath Summer Sprint Series Qualifier) over five furlongs and 160 yards, was also a neck – and a neck separated the second- and third-placed horses.

Taking the honours was 17/2 fancy Miss Magic Dragon – saddled by Des Donovan (Exning, Suffolk) and steered by Pat Cosgrave – ahead of runner-up Rogue Rebellion (12/1), representing Ron Harris’ operation at Earlswood, Monmouthshire, and guided home by Kieran O’Neill. Cougar Force (28/1) was third.

O’Neill went one better in race six, the £10,000 Lee’s 60th – Still Horsing Around Handicap Stakes (Class 6) (Bath Summer Stayers’ Series Qualifier) over one mile, three furlongs and 137 yards, riding Virtual Hug (13/2) to glory by one-and-a-quarter lengths for handler Nikki Evans (Pandy, Monmouthshire).

Runner-up was 80/1 fancy Bobby Dassler, trained by Barry Murphy near Carmarthen, West Wales, and ridden by Christian Howarth.

The penultimate contest, the one-mile £10,000 Droneart Show May 8th Handicap Stakes (Class 6), was another thriller, being decided by a nose.

Sail On Sailor (5/1), under Harry Davies and conditioned by Simon Dow at Epsom, Surrey, took the honours from second-placed Alice’s Influence (9/2), sent out by Pandy’s David Evans and piloted by Cosgrave.

The closing £6,000 CarboNetZero Limited Handicap Stakes, for purebred Arabians and over one mile, three furlongs and 137 yards, was won by 10/11 favourite Mdawi for trainer Charlie Wallis (Ardleigh, Essex) and rider George Bass.

Madawi finished four lengths ahead of runner-up Victoria (7/1), trained by Wendy Hassall and ridden by Teagan Padgett.

Going was good.

There is another double header of racing at Bath next week, with an afternoon fixture on Tuesday 12th May and an evening meeting on Wednesday 13th May.

Tickets are available here.