Bathwick Tyres Bath Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 4m 14.1s

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Selected odds by:

Hint Of Mint⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Kieron Edgar⁽³⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 137

11/4

Hat-trick seeker who has been a picture of consistency here on his last three starts, beaten by a head over further in December before two narrow C&D wins. Up 7lb for that last victory which seems a little harsh, though the second was nine lengths clear of the field.

Form: 4730/03

Beltor³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: T J O'Brien| T: R Stephens| OR: 133

4/1

Seventh in the Betfair Hurdle last time out, beaten 19L. This is obviously a much less competitive contest (which he's dropped 2lb for), and he would seem to have conditions in his favour as a soft ground winner. Player.

Form: 6/7-0563

Wishfull Dreaming¹⁰⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 128

7/4

Useful type who finished fourth in a Listed race at Sandown in December (2m, good to soft) won by Brain Power when last seen. Young, progressive and in the care of a top trainer, he has to be feared dropped back down in class.

Form: 3/154F2-

Paddys Runner³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 127

9/1

Was much better last time at Wincanton when relishing a step down in trip to score convincingly. Carried on that good form with a second on the all-weather at Wolverhampton last month and is faced with a 5lb rise in the weights compared to his last run over hurdles. Not out of it by any means.

Form: 112-P43

Amour de Nuit¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 118

5/1

Has been disappointing so far, beaten twice when short-priced favourite, and then comprehensively dismissed here over further last time out. He was excellent on the Flat and there is surely more to come, especially as he has always been considered a hurdler in the making.

Form: 273121-

Non-Runners

Mr Kit Cat²⁷

Weight: 10-9| Age: 7

T: Evan Williams J: Adam Wedge

Forecasts

Wishfull Dreaming (7/4), Hint Of Mint (11/4), Beltor (4/1), Amour de Nuit (5/1), Paddys Runner (9/1), Mr Kit Cat (16/1)

This is a competitive handicap hurdle where all the runners seemingly hold claims of one form or another. Beltor was far from disgraced when seventh in the Betfair Hurdle last time and could have a say here in what is a much less competitive heat off a slightly lower mark, while Hint of Mint clearly likes it here given how he's performed over C&D recently, but it seems likely he's just a little too high in the weights now. Preference therefore is for WISHFULL DREAMING, who was fourth in a Listed race won by Brain Power last time and seems to be going the right way. He can provide the answer dropped back down in class.