17:05 The last race of the day had the biggest field and was the longest at just over two miles.
If the first race was facile then this was the opposite in it produced the best finish of the day with Brave Bugsy living up to his name in a gritty battle with Directa’s Digger and either could have been called the winner a furlong out.
The pace had been set by the Gary Moore pair Grasp and Maximix but you seemed to sense the rest were just waiting to nab them.
16:35 The third of our large fields saw a battle for the finish with the favourite Mezzanisi under Hayley Turner just failing to beat Stow under Travis Block.
Both the winner and runner up were happy to track the field allowing Challow Hills and Asmodea to take the field along.
It was not until half way down the home straight that Stow made his move and the drop from 1½ to 1¼ miles seemed to do the trick. It was a first victory for the winner who was in the famous DeWalden colours.
The first two finished 3¼ lengths clear of the second favourite Kyrie Eleison.
16:05 Well if the bookmakers were happy with the last result they were doing cartwheels with this one.
The favourite was Unlimited who after a tardy start was soon in the lead but two out the field were bunching up behind.
A furlong out there were several in contention. It was Bold Cross, who went to post early, who took advantage of the runners taking the centre of the course and came up the inside rail holding off challenges from Magroom and Strike Force with the favourite only managing fourth.
3:35 After three small field races we had 14 runners in the next, although it should have been 17.
This is a race where the whole complexion of the race changed in the final half furlong. The bookies have extra reason to be pleased as the favourite, Prince of Delphi was beaten into fourth in a photograph by High Reach under Hayley Turner.
The race looked to be over three out when the second favourite Misaro, ridden by Hadden Frost, took what appeared to be a decisive lead. It was only in the dying strides that Buy On Red, under Richard Mullin found a gap on the rail and mugged the long time leader on the line.
3:05 Who would be a bookie at Bath today as the third favourite of the afternoon wins the races.
This time Spring Dream from the Alan King yard had to do it the hard way. Settled towards the rear by Richard Hughes the grey mare launched her challenge coming down the home straight but soon found herself trapped.
Richard Hughes had to extricate the mare and come round the field to grab victory by ½ length on the line from Bassinet, with Rose Row who beat the winner three weeks ago a further ½ back in third.
Spring Dream was taking this race for the second year running and it was a good ride from Hughes to get her across the line in front. Although it could also be argued that he should not have got her penned in in the first place.
2:35 Well the second sprint proved to be a much more competitive heat than the first, although once again the betting was spot on.
Kevin Ryan’s Wotashirtfull, a perennial runner up, opened up as favourite but in the face of strong support from Andrew Balding’s Whiskey Junction only went off second favourite.
Spic ‘n Span from Ron Harris’ yard was mulish at the start.
The two market leaders, along with Mr Funshine were quickly away although this time the field were in closer proximity.
Come the business end it looked like a two horse race with the two market principles fighting it out. Wotashirtful got first run but Whiskey Junction kept his rival in sight and at the distance took the lead to take the spoils by 1½ lengths.
Wotashirtful just managed to hold off the late challenge of Spic ‘n Span to keep second place.
14:05 To call the first event a race would be overstating what happened. In arace reduced from the declared eight down to four, one only had to look at the runners in the paddock to quickly eliminate the two newcomers.
Loched Up shold be just that, whinnying and fly kicking to his hearts content. Whilst Red Myth has to be the narrowest horse I have seen in a long time.
In the end the market told the story with Brian Meehan’s Zezao sent of the 8/15 favourite and winning like one from the second favourite Sally’s Dilemma.
Indeed the top two set off clear right from the start with Sally’s Dilemma setting the early pace tracked by the favourite and way clear of the other two.
Come 2½ out the favourite eased into the lead and never looked back finishing 6 lengths clear of Sally’s Dilemma who, in turn, was 25 lengths clear of the remainder.
That about says it all.
Just how good the winner is will be a matter of conjecture until he meets something better.
13:10 Good afternoon from a chilly, overcast, Bath. Two more non-runners, annoyingly in the first so only four going to post.
09:30 Make that eight non-runners.
09:15 Seven non-runners already and not wishing to foster conspiracy theories but the 17 and 16 runner handicaps have now both been reduced to 15 runners.