Franny's magnificent four: Norton goes through card at reduced Bath meeting

Bath's biggest fixture of the year was billed as 'Feel Good Friday' and, despite being blighted by foul weather, it delivered a big moment for Franny Norton, who rode 'through the card' at a meeting reduced to four races.

Norton rode doubles for Mick Channon, on Dan's Dream and Izzer, and Ron Harris, on Under The Covers and The Daley Express, to seal a 188-1 four-timer.

The seven-race card had been cut to just four sprint races after concerns were raised about a patch of false ground on the bend following 8mm of rain on an already wet track.

Norton, 47, had rides in all seven scheduled races but made the most of what remained with a clean sweep.

"I knew I had a good book of rides," he said. "I wish there were other races so I could really take some credit for this. It was just a shame they couldn't go ahead but I can't complain.

"I've had four winners here before, as well as at Chester and Musselburgh."

Norton had been one of the jockeys to raise concerns about a false patch of ground on the home bend, which led to a second check of the track before racing.

The course had survived an early-morning inspection but stewards took the decision to scrap three of the longer-distance races.

Stipendiary steward Simon Cowley said: "Following that inspection and having heard evidence from trainers and jockeys, the stewards decided to abandon the round-course races because of that unsafe ground. There appeared to be no way to go round it by rerailing."

Three of the first four races were scheduled on the sprint course but with the track not allowed to move races from their advertised start times there was an hour-and-a-half gap between the third and last race, by which time many of the 5,024 crowd had decided to head home.

It was a challenging day for management at the Arc track, which took steps to make up for the disappointment by paying £300 each to the owners of the 29 horses who did not get to race and a £125 riding fee for any jockey who missed out on their ride, and by emailing customers to offer them a two-for-one ticket to another raceday.

"We obviously recognise that a lot of time and effort has gone into racing horses here," said Russell Smith, the racecourse executive director. "We thought this was a good way to recompense owners, trainers and jockeys. We also wanted to recognise our customers' support as well.

"We had over 4,000 pre-sales and we were expecting a lot more to walk up, hospitality was sold out, and obviously the rain hasn't helped. A crowd of over 5,000 is really good given the challenging conditions.

"We wanted to give people a really good day but the weather has spoiled that somewhat. It's massively disappointing to lose three races but the decision was right to run four races."

THE BUZZ

Quick-fire double
Full marks to Mick Channon for being astute enough not only to plunder the Brocklesby with Izzer but Bath's £20,000 conditions race for two-year-olds just six days later.

Thought for the day
Arc could not be blamed for the wet weather but after a late announcement of a morning inspection and issues with the home bend, which led to the loss of three races, the racecourse operator recognises the importance of keeping their core supporters onside – a trait that wasn't always evident under previous management.

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