My favourite race of the week this! I think because it is such a test for a novice hurdler and the name of the game is staying.
Interestingly, this is the first Grade 1 Novice Hurdle run over 3m either side of the Irish Sea in the National Hunt season, in fact there are only 6 Graded Novice Hurdles over 3m run all season. 3 in Ireland (One Grade 2 & Two Grade 3's) & 3 in Britain (all Grade 2's)
It is noted that in the 12 years since the Spa/Albert Bartlett/Potato Race (whatever you call) has been run, 6 winners have won at least one of these Graded 3m Novice Hurdles. Another in Faugheen has went on to win the Neptune and a Champion (God, we'll miss him this year)
So that's 7 out of the last 12 years that the winner of one of the following race has went on to win a Neptune (1) or an Albert Bartlett (6)
Bristol Novice Hurdle, Cheltenham, December - WHOLESTONE
River Don Novice Hurdle, Doncaster, January - CONSTANTINE BAY
Prestige Novice Hurdle, Haydock, February - THE WORLDS END
Dorans Pride Novice Hurdle, Limerick, December - PENHILL
Cork Stayers Novice Hurdle, Cork, December - RATHNURE REBEL
Clonmel Novice Hurdle, Clonmel, February - MONALEE
So that gives us a nice shortlist and looking at the current betting there are 4 0f these in with a realistic shout, 3 if Monalee heads Neptune way. I think the whole point of the post was to say there is life beyond death duty in this race and I will be looking at these horses above for a betting angle this year. Already backed Penhill (beat Rathnure Rebel at Limerick) but could be tempted by a saver on one of the others.
Hope this is informative :encouragement:
Hope we all got on ��
My favourite race of the week this! I think because it is such a test for a novice hurdler and the name of the game is staying.
Interestingly, this is the first Grade 1 Novice Hurdle run over 3m either side of the Irish Sea in the National Hunt season, in fact there are only 6 Graded Novice Hurdles over 3m run all season. 3 in Ireland (One Grade 2 & Two Grade 3's) & 3 in Britain (all Grade 2's)
It is noted that in the 12 years since the Spa/Albert Bartlett/Potato Race (whatever you call) has been run, 6 winners have won at least one of these Graded 3m Novice Hurdles. Another in Faugheen has went on to win the Neptune and a Champion (God, we'll miss him this year)
So that's 7 out of the last 12 years that the winner of one of the following race has went on to win a Neptune (1) or an Albert Bartlett (6)
Bristol Novice Hurdle, Cheltenham, December - WHOLESTONE
River Don Novice Hurdle, Doncaster, January - CONSTANTINE BAY
Prestige Novice Hurdle, Haydock, February - THE WORLDS END
Dorans Pride Novice Hurdle, Limerick, December - PENHILL
Cork Stayers Novice Hurdle, Cork, December - RATHNURE REBEL
Clonmel Novice Hurdle, Clonmel, February - MONALEE
So that gives us a nice shortlist and looking at the current betting there are 4 0f these in with a realistic shout, 3 if Monalee heads Neptune way. I think the whole point of the post was to say there is life beyond death duty in this race and I will be looking at these horses above for a betting angle this year. Already backed Penhill (beat Rathnure Rebel at Limerick) but could be tempted by a saver on one of the others.
Hope this is informative :encouragement: