Race type - Flat
Bath
Course details
GUIDE - For Racecourse
Left-handed, flattened, kidney-shaped circuit of 1m4f, two spurs.
As the name implies, Bath is practically built on some thermal springs and that is what first attracted the Romans to the area. Whilst no records exist, it's odds-on that they raced their chariots in the area and they would certainly approve of the current race course site which came into use in 1811 and is situated on the natural amphitheatre of Lansdown Hill overlooking the historic town. The chalky hill rises to 400 feet above sea level and that makes Bath the highest racecourse in the land, with its porous nature ensuring the going is rarely on the soft side of good. Indeed, the going description frequently includes the word 'firm' with the lack of any sort of watering system not helping on that score.
Track / Draw Bias
You'd expect low numbers to do best on this left-handed course but the stats don't back that up and it seems the pace at which races are run is more important. In smaller fields, the runners tend to go a steady pace and up front on the inside is the place to be, with low numbers holding the edge. However, in bigger fields they tend to go off much too fast with jockeys vying for the inside rail position. and that sets it up for the higher-drawn hold-up horses who can come through late.
Principal Races
The EBF Somersetshire Conditions Stakes, which is run over 5f161yds in August, is the track's richest race with prize money in 2011 exceeding £14k. Other than that and a small handful of £5k handicaps, the standard of racing is very modest with sellers and claiming races commonplace.
Course Characteristics
The track is far from straight-forward and that combined with lightning-fast ground makes it a venue for course specialists. There is a distinct-dog leg in the back straight, while the home straight curves slightly to the left between the 2f and 4f poles, with a left-handed kink just before the winning post. There is a spur at the end of the back straight for races of 1m3f and a further spur adjoining the home straight, which serves as the starting point for races over 5f and 51/2f. In longer races, the runners have to negotiate a sharp bend as they turn into the home straight that favours horses that like to lay handy, although they need to stay well too as the last 4f is all uphill.
Top Trainers
Mick Channon has trained most winners here (29) in the past five seasons and his strike rate of 15% is respectable considering he has plenty of runners too. Richard Hannon is also operating around the same mark and his two-year-olds in particular are worth following. The quality of Andrew Balding's string is constantly improving - watch out for his juveniles in 2012 - and he rarely leaves a meeting here without a winner under his belt, with his 16 winners coming at a strike rate of 20%. Better still is the 24% of Newmarket handler Brian Meehan, while Ron Hodges does particularly well in sprint handicaps here.
Top Jockeys
The big-name jockeys are usually engaged elsewhere and that gives some of the flat circuit's lesser lights the chance to shine, with Liam Keniry leading the way numerically with 22 winners. He gets the leg up on the majority of Andrew Balding's winners and should continue to pay his way in 2012. David Probert has quickly established himself on the southern circuit and his talents are often in evidence here with 21 winners since 2007 at a strike rate of 13%. Martin Dwyer has been winning on 27% of his rides and that makes him a jockey to follow, along with Chris Catlin and Dane O'Neill.