Bath not anticipating issues for marquee Easter Sunday card despite dry spell causing cancellations elsewhere in West Country

West Country tracks Exeter, Taunton and Wincanton have all cancelled fixtures in recent weeks due to a lack of rainfall resulting in unseasonably quick ground but there are no such concerns at Bath ahead of one of of the course's marquee racedays on Easter Sunday.

The Lansdown Fillies' Stakes is the £50,000 highlight on the Bath card, one of the track's two Listed races of the season, and clerk of the course Ben Hicks is content with where he has the track despite the difficulties experienced by others in the region.

Some rain is forecast this week, although Hicks reports Bath has received half the rainfall it had at this time last year.

The former jockey said: "We're currently good to firm ground. It's not been overly warm and there's some rain about. It's unsettled but the forecasters are confident there's a bit of rain.

Adaay In Devon (left): won the feature on Bath's card 12 months agoCredit: Edward Whitaker

"The track is in good condition and we've tried to spread the wear of our first meeting with the rail. The rain this week and temperatures being lower should help us for Sunday.

"Last year we started on heavy and this time it's been quicker ground, so it's quite different. We've had half the rainfall we had up until this point last year. Everyone's got the weather to contend with but we've done what we can to utilise the moisture we have.

"Sunday is one of our highlights of the season. It's an important race for us and the breeding industry too. Hopefully we can attract some good runners and Irish interest."

Bath is no stranger to challenges with quick ground as the track does not have a watering system. It was unable to race from July onwards in 2022 due to a drought in the region, while 2018 was another challenging year for similar reasons.

Read more:

Tracks across Britain bemoan lack of rain after multiple meetings cancelled days in advance 

John Baker driving changes to get the buzz back at Newton Abbot after last year's woes 

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