Bath hit by the fast ground as six out of seven races are reopened

Six out of seven races at Bath – a track where there is no watering system – on Wednesday have been reopened with owner Arena Racing Company monitoring ground conditions but satisfied the course is safe for racing.

On Thursday just one race beat the entry threshold, while another attracted only four horses, for next week's meeting, as a result of which trainers have been given another 24 hours to make entries. The going remains firm.

During Tuesday's meeting this week champion jockey Silvestre de Sousa said he had never ridden on ground as quick, even in South America. "It's very fast out there and in Brazil I'm not sure they'd race, but it seems safe," he said.

Trainer Joe Tuite, who also had winner on the card, said: "I wouldn't be going back there very quickly at the moment.

"I walked down three furlongs of the track and I thought I might be in trouble because it was like the road. I've never seen ground like it. They are calling it firm. It's hard. They can't water so you can't really expect it to be much different.

"I had a winner on the day but my jockey came in and said he hated the ground. In fairness I had two runners, and the filly hated it too, but they both trotted up sound the next morning."

Joe Tuite: 'I've never seen ground like it. They are calling it firm - it's hard'Credit: Edward Whitaker

At Tuesday's meeting there were 33 runners in six races, having originally drawn 83 at the six-day entry stage when there were no reopenings.

Arc spokesman Sam Cone said: "For the moment we'll wait and see the field sizes after reopening.

"We're keeping a very close eye on things and everything we do is in conjunction with the BHA course inspectorate. By all indications it's reached a level where the ground is not getting any firmer. Yes, it's firm ground but it's safe firm ground. But we'll continue to monitor conditions alongside the BHA."

There have been red-hot temperatures in the UK and Ireland since the middle of June, putting this summer in line to become the hottest since 1976. Ladbrokes quote just 4-1 that a record-breaking 38.5C is reached.

With little sign of the dry, hot weather giving way, the only chance of rain falling at Bath is on Friday, according to the Met Office.

"There could be some outbreaks of rain, when they could get 5mm – more likely two or three – but after that it's looking bone dry," said a spokesman on Thursday.

Whatever the conditions, Bath can continue to count on the patronage of Ron Harris.

"I'm happy with it," he said. "Bath is very firm at the moment but horses that act on it love the place. I've no fear about having any runners there.

"I'm sure it's safe enough. Hopefully there have been no major injuries – I don't know of any – and that would say enough. People think because it's not watered it's not safe. I think watered ground is not safe because it's false."

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