We’re getting ever closer to the 2012 Cheltenham Festival and it’s just four weeks away today. The markets are continuing to shape up as form becomes clearer and race targets become more obvious. Today I’ll be looking at the Albert Bartlett following the news yesterday from Philip Hobbs that the Neptune is Fingal Bay’s target. It wasn’t a surprise to me as I had expected this would be the case but what it does do is create an opportunity of value in the Albert Bartlett. Fingal Bay understandably remains prominent in the market but it’s an easy choice to look elsewhere after Hobbs’ comments. This leaves Boston Bob as a firm favourite and I have no problem whatsoever with him being in that position. However, at no bigger than 5/1 currently, I have zero interest given the fact Mullins has yet to make it clear whether he goes for the Albert Bartlett or the Neptune. This situation leaves us with some great value to get our hands on. Imagine the price of the others horses if both Fingal Bay and Boston Bob went for the Neptune.
Back Benbulben To Thrive Over Three Miles
Behind the top two we have a group of six or seven horses fairly closely matched. The various different bookmakers have them in different orders but the one I have the most interest in is Mount Benbulben. I’m a big fan of this horse. He’s bumper form was very smart, particularly when slamming Lovethehigherlaw by eight lengths, with that one going on to win the Grade 1 bumper at Punchestown from the well regarded Waaheb. (Was one of the market leaders for the Supreme before being ruled out). He slipped on his hurdles debut, but made amends when cruising to a stylish victory at Thurles being sent off at odds of 1/2.
We then saw Benbulben stepping up in class when contesting a Grade 2 hurdle at Navan over 2 miles 4 furlongs. Rebel Fitz almost got away at the front under a great ride from Ruby Walsh but Mount Benbulben swooped late finishing very strongly. A further step up in class then saw him back at Navan over the same distance in the Grade 1 Navan Novice Hurdle. This is where he met Boston Bob who has since left us with the feeling he’s up there with the best novices in Ireland this season. Boston Bob had the measure of Benbulben that day but it was very obvious that something wasn’t quite right with him. His jumping was erratic and right-handed, when he had looked smooth and fluent over the hurdles previously at the track. Whilst it could be argued that Boston Bob would have won if Benbulben had jumped fluently, I’m confident it would have been a very close call. Given that he wasn’t at his best that day, and Boston Bob has boosted the form anyway with his subsequent win, we can expect a lot more to come from this horse.
I’m hoping that improvement will come in the Albert Bartlett where the step up in trip looks like it will suit him wonderfully. He needed all of the trip to get his win in the Grade 2 and this further distance can only benefit him in my eyes. Trainer Gordon Elliott has confirmed that this race is his festival plan, you can see his views of Benbulben and some other horses of his in this video. Elliott has made no secret of how he rates the horse, and he also mentions how he came out of the race sore which adds to the feeling he wasn’t at his best. With plenty more to come from this horse, and the race confirmed as his target I think he represents cracking value at 12/1 with Ladbrokes. If Fingal Bay was out of the market he’d probably be nearer to half that price.
Other Albert Bartlett Contenders
A big challenger could come in the Paul Nicholls trained Rocky Creek. Disappointingly turned over at odds-on, he put that aside with a good win over Gullinbursti who appears a pretty useful sort. Anything from the Nicholls yard has to be respected but he doesn’t have enough form on offer for me to think he’s a huge threat just yet. The Irish duo of Sea Of Thunder and Ipsos Du Berlais are respected, however rather held on form. The latter was behind a below-par Mount Benbulben at Navan, but impressed when winning at Punchestown despite looking in trouble a fair way out. The step up in trip will surely suit too, but I couldn’t see him reversing form with Benbulben. Sea Of Thunder should have scored an impressive win at Cheltenham at December before a fall at the last. He was a fair way back behind Boston Bob at Leopardstown though, and despite that trip obviously being on the stiff side I can’t see him being able to threaten. Ballyrock would be considered a big threat after running Fingal Bay close last time out, but the feeling that day was Fingal wasn’t at his best and rather idled in front. I wouldn’t want to be backing Ballyrock on that form line. The rest appear to have plenty to find and I’m more than happy with Mount Benbulben as the selection at a nice price.
Advice - 1 pt win Mount Benbulben, Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle (12/1 Ladbrokes)