The Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle has received a bumper entry of 20 horses on Friday. The race before the Gold Cup looks to be the most competitive top tier contest of the week, as Joe Napier tries to unravel it with his verdict below…
Gordon Elliott’s Stellar Story sprung a 33/1 upset a year ago, running down The Jukebox Man on the line. He is not the only big-priced outsider to land this in recent years.
THE BIG WESTERNER
(Henry De Bromhead/Darragh O’Keeffe)
A huge strapping mare, The Big Westerner is two from two under rules and looks all about stamina. Ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe in both rules starts so far, it is he who keeps the ride above Rachael Blackmore, as he guides her to success in Grade 2 company at Limerick on Boxing Day.
She won that fairly impressively, displaying her powerful stride to good effect, and clearing away late on. That form is only solid, but is probably the best on offer, though with this race’s history of throwing up shocks and some untapped potential further down the field, she is worth taking on. Henry De Bromhead’s stable form remains a concern overall.
JASMIN DE VAUX
(Willie Mullins/Paul Townend)
It is some show of faith from Paul Townend to select last year’s Champion Bumper winner Jasmin De Vaux in this contest given the yard have six contenders in all. The diminutive six-year-old defies traditional logic in being a stayer at his size, but he has certainly shaped like one in his hurdling career so far.
However, his jumping is a serious issue. It cost him any chance in the Grade 1 Lawlor’s Of Naas behind The Yellow Clay and can’t have helped when behind Final Demand at the Dublin Racing Festival. This longer trip should place less emphasis on jumping though, and the form of those two contests is very strong. He may well yet come good, but is there a ground query too?
JET BLUE
(David Cottin/James Reveley)
David Cottin missed out on a live chance in the Cross Country as Iceo Madrik missed out in the handicap, but Jet Blue is a decent backup. He came over to Cheltenham in December and despite appearing outpaced, fairly flew home to ultimately win decisively in a Grade 2 novice event, conceding weight all round.
He has not raced since and it is difficult to equate what he did in France with the rest of this field’s form. Nevertheless, a proper test of stamina clearly suits him and he does not look overly ground dependent as many French raiders would, so has to be taken seriously.
WINGMEN
(Gordon Elliott/Jack Kennedy)
A bumper winner at the Punchestown Festival last year, you would have been forgiven for thinking Wingmen was simply slow when second at Cheltenham earlier this season over 2m1f. However, subsequent form has proven that it was the trip rather than ability that was the issue.
He was third to The Yellow Clay and second to Final Demand in the same races as Jasmin De Vaux, both times beating that Mullins runner. They were each on soft ground, but he won his maiden on good and looks a relentless galloper who should be well suited by this test.
THE FIELD
Make a cup of tea, because there’s 16 more to go through.
Wendigo is the shortest-priced of the Brits. His form when second to The New Lion in the Challow Hurdle was given a major boost when that horse won a hot edition of the Turners on Wednesday, while Jamie Snowden got a confidence-boosting win into him four weeks ago. This test promises to bring out even more from him.
Derryhassen Paddy is the hope of Scotland and looks a dour stayer. His Windsor form is only average, but few look as tough as he promises to be. The same could be said of rank outsider Jig’s Forge for Ben Pauling, who was too keen at Doncaster, but may be a livewire here for the yard that has the runner-up a year ago.
Of the Mullins lt, Sounds Victorius is the second choice behind Jasmin De Vaux and could also get involved, though the ground is a worry for Fishery Lane and Port Joulain, and may be for Argento Boy too, who picked up his form on heavy last time out. Inn At The Park looks outclassed on his latest run.
Ballybow has improved dramatically the last twice for connections that won this a year ago, though two less fashionable Irish yards could hold more genuine chances for this race. Flicker Of Hope may only have been third in handicap company last time out, but that was a really deep race, and took his form figures over 3m to 1113. He is progressing at a rate of knots. Meanwhile, Intense Approach has won his last four races on good ground and has dominated the last twice from the front. He could be difficult to catch in his rhythm.
Jax Junior may challenge him from the front though and was deeply impressive at Ascot two starts back. If able to save some reserves, he is not discounted, though Yellow Car and Ma Shantou would have to step up from their mutual form last time, with Jig’s Forge being the takeaway from that race.
Nicky Henderson rarely has 40/1 shots (at time of writing) in Grade 1s, but that is the case with Nativehill. He did win a point-to-point and looks a half decent staying chaser of the future, but his form so far leaves him something to find. First Confession is likewise facing an uphill battle here overall.
VERDICT
This has not been won by a favourite for over a decade and The Big Westerner doesn’t look as far clear on form as the market suggests. There are any number of chances in behind though, but the progressive FLICKER OF HOPE might be coming good at the right time, as there does not look to be a superstar in here. If Jasmin De Vaux can sort out his jumping, he might be that star though,s o has to be respected, while there are enough front-runners in here that could set this up well for Jet Blue and Wendigo, with the best of those likely to race prominently being Wingmen and Intense Approach. Sounds Victorius is another Willie Mullins runner to consider, while Jig’s Forge is an interesting one at massive odds.
- Flicker Of Hope
- Jasmin De Vaux
- Wingmen
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