Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle
The Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle is the third race of the day on Gold Cup day at the Cheltenham Festival. The race was introduced in 2005 when the festival expanded to include a fourth day. It is a Grade 1 hurdle, run over an approximate distance of 3 miles, with 12 hurdles to be jumped. It is for novices aged four years and above. The race initially started out as a Grade 2 but was elevated to Grade 1 in 2008, the same time that the company Albert Barlett began sponsoring the race.
With only seven runnings of the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle since it’s inception, there isn’t a huge pool of data that can be used for the betting trends. There was a big priced winner in 2010 when Berties Dream took victory at 33/1. Other than that, though, each winner has returned a price of under 10/1, with three favourites taking victory at 15/8 or lower. Six of the seven winners were in the first five of the betting, so it should again pay to keep the focus at the top half of the market. Winners of the race can go on to the RSA Chase if they enter the novice chasing ranks. Winner of the 2009 Albert Bartlett Weapons Amnesty went on to win the 2010 RSA Chase. Last year’s Albert Bartlett winner Bobs Worth is hoping to repeat that feat this year.
Albert Bartlett 2012 – Staying On To Glory
The market for the 2012 Albert Barlett Novices Hurdle is currently headed by Fingal Bay. Whilst a step up in trip would seem likely to be no problem for him, he remains favourite for the Neptune and that would appear the more likely route that he will take. Trainer Philip Hobbs has made it clear that the Neptune is more likely with the step up in trip one that is unknown as yet. Therefore we find ourselves with an ideal ante post situation, whereby we have bigger prices available on the other market principals that would be noticeably shorter without Fingal Bay.
So looking beyond Fingal Bay in the market we have a collection of Irish horses who are closely grouped together, vying for second spot in the market. Currently just clear of the others is the Willie Mullins trained Boston Bob. An easy winner on his hurdling debut, he built upon that with a likeable win in the Grade 1 Navan Novice Hurdle. He traveled strongly in the testing ground over 2 miles and 4 furlongs, so a step up in trip over likely better ground at Cheltenham could suit. Second place behind Boston Bob at Navan was Mount Benbulben. He had previously won a Grade 2 over course and distance, beating a couple of useful sorts. It has to be said Mount Benbulben didn’t look quite right against Boston Bob, jumping right quite severely throughout. He had showed no issues with this before and he has every chance of reversing the form in my opinion.
Next we have Sea Of Thunder. He finished well behind Hazy Tom at Wetherby, but showed a good level of improvement when he was about to sluice up at Cheltenham in a 3 mile event. He was well clear of the rest before a mistake at the last cost him. His rivals that day are useful enough and the way he was in command has to be respected as a good level of form. Make Your Mark completes the quartet of Irish challengers at the head of the market. The Gigginstown owned gelding has made a deep impression with two wins from two to his name. He won easily on his maiden hurdle, and whilst perhaps not beating much, he did beat Competitive Edge by ten lengths who had some fair form to his name. Make Your Mark is certainly interesting but will not be rushed and is likely to keep things low key before deciding whether he is the real deal or not.
Other contenders include Ballyrock, who gave Fingal Bay a scare last time out, and another Irish raider in Ipsos Du Berlais, who showed a good attitude when beating a couple of decent performers at Punchestown.
Bobs Shows His Worth in 2011 Albert Barlett
The form of the 2011 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle hasn’t worked out to be top class, but it is useful enough. Second-placed Mossley has shown some fair form, as his fourth-placed Champion Court, but both appear to be slightly off having the class to be winning top races. Bobs Worth, however, has shown that he was more than a worthy winner. A battling victory over Cue Card on his chasing debut, before a credible third behind Grands Crus in a race where he didn’t appear to put his best foot forward. He is a live contender for RSA glory at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.