Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle 2013

[Lester]

McCoy

At Fishers Cross should have a cracking chance in the Albert Bartlett on Friday

[Statto]

Only going 8 years Will be 6 or 7 years old. Has won hurdle race over 2m 4f. May not have already run over 3 miles. Only 3 or 4 runs over hurdles unless a second season novice. 1st or 2nd last time out in Graded Class. Irish punch above their numbers. Course winner or Graded course form if given the chance. Any price. Not blinkered.

The early season 2m 4f plus races at Cheltenham have produced winners of this. 2010 Berties Dream had been 3rd to Tell Massini in November G2, Restless Harry, fell last here, had previously won G2 in January. 2011 Mossley 2nd won the 3 mile December Novice. In the G2 in January 2011, Bobs Worth beat Rock On Ruby who was subsequently touched off in the Neptune. Coneygree and At Fishers Cross.

In 2012 neither Fingal Bay nor Deireadh Re turned up in March. Sea of Thunder had been clear in December but fell at the last. Unplaced in March.

After Moulin Riche last 7 all six or seven years of age.

River Don winner at Doncaster late January yet to get involved in the finish of this. (off 2012). 41 Irish Trained (4 in each of the last two years) have produced Berties Dream '10 Weapon's Amnesty '09, three seconds and a third (Boston Bob 6/5 fav couldn't to Campbell Gillies on Brindisi Breeze last year). Irish trained would have produced another second if Black Harry hadn't fallen at the last in '07.

All 8 had won a hurdle race over 2m 4f or further (Brindisi came form the heavy ground 3m novice at Haydock won this year by Two Rockers.

6 of the 8, 3 or 4 runs over hurdles (Berties had 14, Moulin 8 both second season novices).

Moulin Riche had won at Listed level in France, 6 others had won a Graded hurdle, Berties just placed .

7 were 1st or 2nd last time out in Graded class (Berties had been 4th).

4 were course winners, Berties placed, Brindisi and Weapon's had never been here before and Moulin Riche beaten both in Triumph and in a Chelt 2m 4f novice earlier that season.

4 of the 8 had raced around Cheltenham as least twice. 4 hadn't

19 from the 24 win and placed so far have all been 1st or 2nd last time out (all three won last time out in 2012, in 2011 not Mossley, stuffed in 2m5f Warwick Novice).

Only 17 from 24 win and placed had already raced over 3 miles. (only Brindisi of of the last three winners)

PRICES - Boston Bob and Brewster in '05 favourites under 3/1 and beaten. 3 other favourites under 3/1 have won. But also a well touted 33/1 shot.

BLINKERS - Only Nenuphar Collonges 2007 from 10 triers in total. He won it off rating 134. It is now a G1.

[mayo]

Willie Mullins is responsible for six of the 34 entries for Friday's Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

The Champion trainer has favourite Ballycasey along with Pont Alexandre, Champagne Fever, Inish Island, Un Atout and Mozoltov in an attempt to win the race for the first time.

At Fishers Cross spearheads the potential British challenge along with African Gold and Gevrey Chambertin, although the latter could take up an alternative engagement in the Martin Pipe on the same day.

Taquin Du Seuil is the unsurprising but significant absentee, with connections setting their sights firmly on the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle instead.

Nicky Henderson has just one entry, the five-year-old mare Utopie Des Bordes, while Aaim To Prosper is the sole entry for Paul Nicholls.

[Yeehaa]

Coneygree


He did the most fantastic, best-ever piece of work on Saturday. He came in a little bit stiff and last night he was lame behind," said Bradstock's wife and assistant, Sara.

"It will be investigated on Monday morning, but he's got a massive future.

"We are not going to take any risks, so it is extremely unlikely he will run (at Cheltenham).

"He is still a big weak horse and that is when they get these training injuries.

"Hopefully it's nothing serious and if it is just a muscle tweak he will probably go to that three-mile hurdle (Grade One John Smith's Sefton Novices' Hurdle) at Aintree."

[Morning Glory]

Nearly quarter of a century after Norton ’s Coin sprang the ultimate Cheltenham Gold Cup shock, Rebecca Curtis can strike a Grade One blow for Wales in the Albert Bartlett with At Fishers Cross.

The ex-Charlie Swan-trained horse has cemented the link between the Newport-based trainer and Irish owner JP McManus this season with a four-from-four campaign that includes the most outstanding single piece of form in today’s three-miler.

That came at Cheltenham a month ago when At Fishers Cross proved a neck too good for Wednesday’s Neptune winner The New One.

It would be dangerous to take the form absolutely literally. The New One didn’t relish the very testing conditions and his jockey felt he didn’t ride a particularly clever race. But neither can it be ignored that At Fishers Cross had to rally to win, and did so with a vengeance.

Proven on the track, the Welsh-based horse should relish the step-up in trip and although his best form is on very soft ground, he has also won this season on good to soft.

It’s unlikely to be better than that today and one certainty is that there will be no 100 to 1 for McManus to tuck into like there was in 1990 when Sirrel Griffiths famously supplied the Gold Cup winner.

Curtis also runs O’Faolains Boy here but Willie Mullins will also be doubly-represented by Inish Island and Ballycasey whose position in the betting market is more to do with home reputation than the bare evidence of a couple of wins at Clonmel and Thurles.

At Fishers Cross in contrast has top form on the track, a proven attitude and an outstanding performance to build on: sometimes it can be delusional to look beyond the obvious.

[Hoof]

barry G

The Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle (2.40) looks as hard as it’s ever been but I’m on a progressive mare in UTOPIE DES BORDES and I’m confident of a forward showing thanks to the 7lb mares allowance she gets from the geldings.

She’s very much going the right way and I’ve been more than happy with what I’ve seen her do at Seven Barrows over the last two weeks.

It could be a big plus for her if the ground is nicer because she gives me the impression she’d be well-suited by it.

But I think we are all up against a big obstacle in the shape of At Fishers Cross. He looked impressive when he won at Cheltenham over two five in late January and the one he beat, The New One, was a very good winner of the Neptune. You don’t get form any more gilt-edged than that.