2022 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Tips - Two selections in this competitive Grade One

This three-mile event for novice hurdlers was introduced to the schedule in 2005 and has quickly grown into an important race. Penhill won the 2017 Albert Bartlett before scoring in the Stayers’ Hurdle the following year. Bobs Worth and Minella Indo also claimed their first Grade One wins in this race, before going on to lift the Gold Cup later in their careers.

I’ve taken a look through the current entries for the Albert Bartlett and picked out my best Cheltenham Festival tips.

The Nathaniel Lacy, run over 22-furlongs at the Dublin Racing Festival, often provides plenty of pointers towards the Albert Bartlett. Minella Cocooner was given a freebie on the front-end in that Grade One and Danny Mullins saved enough in the tank to run out a comfortable winner. Minella Crooner stayed on well for second having made a significant error at the penultimate flight, and it’s Gordon Elliott’s runner, rather than Willie Mullins’ winner, who tops the Albert Bartlett betting.

With Ginto likely to run in the Ballymore, Hollow Games will carry the hopes of Bective Stud. Gordon Elliott’s six-year-old looks every inch a dour stayer. He has, however, produced two underwhelming performances in Grade One company and he’s simply not a horse I’ve warmed to this season.

Willie Mullins could throw The Nice Guy into the Albert Bartlett, where he could be joined by stablemates Classic Getaway, Henn See and Whatdewant. John McConnell’s Bardenstown Lad has only been beaten once in five hurdles starts and won nicely at Cheltenham earlier in the season. 

Eric Bloodaxe slipped down the betting after a shocking run in the Nathaniel Lacy, but Joseph O’Brien’s charge proved his staying ability when picking up a Grade Two at Limerick over Christmas and he shouldn’t be overlooked.

British runners have won just two of the last six editions of this three-miler. Hillcrest is one of just four home runners sitting below 33/1 in the current betting, and he looks set for an outing in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle instead.

Archie Watson’s Stag Horn is two-from-two over hurdles since transitioning from the flat. Rated as high as 108 on the level, Nick Scholfield’s mount made all to win the Leamington Novices’ Hurdle at Warwick last time out, afterwhich Watson’s identified the Albert Bartlett as his likely Cheltenham Festival target.

Ballygriffincottage was beaten into third by former ante-post Bartlett favourite, Blazing Khal on his first start over hurdles in the Bristol Novices’ Hurdle and Dan Skelton’s charge won a shade cosily on Winter Millions day at Lingfield last time out. Green Book could also step up into Grade One company, having run out an impressive winner of the Heroes Handicap on his most recent outing at Sandown.

Falcon Eight landed the Chester Cup on the flat last season and Dermot Weld’s stayer won at the second time of asking over hurdles at Thurles earlier this month. Paul Nolan’s Daily Present looks like a horse to keep on-side.

Grand Jury was well-beaten in the Nathaniel Lacy, but he was well-backed before the off that day – despite the poor form of Henry De Bromhead’s yard – and he was unsuited by the muddling pace set by Minella Cocooner. De Bromhead could also run Shantreusse, who ran out an easy winner of a Grade Three at Clonmel, on day four of the Cheltenham Festival.

River Don winner, Mahler Mission could join stablemate Bardenstown Lad in the Albert Bartlett. Martin Keighley’s strong stayer, Brorson is unlikely to get into the Pertemps Final off a mark of 130, so could end up in this Grade One instead. Idas Boy was narrowly beaten last time out by Gerri Colombe, who had sat prominently in the Albert Bartlett betting before being scratched earlier this week.

2022 Albert Bartlett Best Bet - Ginto