Royal Bath & West Show Handicap Hurdle

4YO plus | Class 3 | 2m 104y | 8 Runners | Turf

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Megan Fox⁽⁷⁾| T: Harry Derham| OR: 138| D

Smart performer at his best who ended a long losing run in 2m Haydock handicap in January. Backed it up with a solid third of 4 to The New Lion in International Hurdle at Cheltenham (16.8f, soft) 19 days ago so needs considering.

Form: 446313

Aurigny Mill^p²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Kimber| T: R Walford| OR: 135| CD

C&D winner who wasn't disgraced in first-time cheekpieces when third of 5 to Celtic Art in handicap hurdle here (19f, soft) 26 days ago. Enjoys a 7 lb weights pull here so can't be discounted with headgear again sported.

Form: 128-4F3

Welsh Charger¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: C Gethings| T: A Ralph| OR: 127| BF| D

Dual winner last term and he posted respectable efforts in top-end 2m handicaps at Cheltenham and Ascot early this winter. Unseated rider at the start in 2m Musselburgh handicap 12 days ago but remains one to consider.

Form: 15-046U

Spirits Bay³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 125| D

Returned with success over hurdles at Newton Abbot (2m) in October and posted a good fourth of 10 on just his second chasing run in 2m3f Exeter handicap 34 days ago. Must enter calculations reverted to this sphere.

Form: 370-134

Celtic Art^b²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Chad Bament⁽⁷⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 125| C| D

Thriving at present and he easily gained a second success of the season here in 5-runner handicap (2m3f, soft) 26 days ago. This strong traveller may do better still so merits serious consideration despite a 5 lb weights rise.

Form: 7-58121

Jack Hyde^t⁹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 124| DWS

Landed the odds in 2m Newton Abbot novice in September and has advanced his form since, tongue tie refitted when a very good second of 15 in handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (16.4f, heavy) 90 days ago. Back from a break now having undergone wind surgery and he's a likely player.

Form: 14-1552

Into The Park^p³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Jones| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 124| CD

Took this prize in 2024 and solid efforts to make the frame in 2m4f handicaps at Uttoxeter and Sandown this winter. Should make a chaser but ran no sort of race with cheekpieces on for his first try at Exeter last month and quickly reverts to hurdles.

Form: 029-24P

Constellation Walk^h,t⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry| OR: 114

Lightly-raced son of Walk In The Park who caught the eye when a patiently-ridden third of 18 in novice hurdle at Wincanton (15.2f, soft) 58 days ago. Goes into handicaps now with more to offer so shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: 0-4463

Forecasts

Celtic Art (3/1), Jack Hyde (4/1), Brentford Hope (5/1), Spirits Bay (11/2), Constellation Walk (13/2), Welsh Charger (8/1), Into The Park (10/1), Aurigny Mill (14/1)

Jeremy Scott's dual-course winner CELTIC ART arrives on the up and handles this sharp track really well so edges the vote from Jack Hyde who returns after a breathing operation on a handy-looking mark and rates a big threat. Both Spirits Bay and Into The Park can't be ruled out back in this sphere, while Welsh Charger and Brentford Hope need factoring into this wide-open handicap too.