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14:50 Cheltenham

Friday 18 March 2022

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Spa Novices' Hurdle) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:51 | Winning time: 5m 53.58s

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Selected odds by:

Ballygrifincottage⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 136| D

28/1

Won all 3 completed starts in points and made a positive start under Rules when third in Grade 2 here. Comfortably went one better in Lingfield novice but this a tall order.

Form: U1-1131

Bardenstown Lad⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: S Bowen| T: J C McConnell| OR: 140| CD

20/1

Bumper winner who has won 4 of his 5 starts over hurdles, notably when defying penalties in novices over C&D and Musselburgh last 2 starts. Possesses the requisite stamina and no forlorn hope.

Form: 311311

Brorson⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: J E Moore| T: M Keighley| OR: 130| BF| D

100/1

Progressive, bagging Catterick maiden and Southwell handicap before excellent third at Wincanton last month. Not up to this level, however.

Form: 327113

Classic Getaway⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| BF| D

22/1

£570,000 purchase on back of point success. Landed odds in bumper and off mark at second attempt over hurdles in maiden at Punchestown. Remains with potential but taking a huge step up in class.

Form: 1-121

Eric Bloodaxe^t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Slevin| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 142

50/1

Resumed winning ways upped in trip in Grade 2 hurdle at Limerick (23f, heavy) but tailed off in Grade 1 at Leopardstown since.

Form: 7/4-1217

Ginto⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 150| D

5/2

Made light of the further step up in grade to complete the hat-trick in Grade 1 at Naas in January, in doing so maintaining an unbeaten record over hurdles. Likeable type and more to come up in trip.

Form: 121-111

Good Time Jonny^t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: K C Sexton| T: A J Martin| OR: 146| D

12/1

Form over hurdles has really taken off since switched to handicaps, winning 3 of his last 4 starts, notably when beating 23 rivals at Leopardstown last month. Not to be underestimated at this level.

Form: F31611

Green Book²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 137| BF

40/1

Improver on Flat in 2021 and has continued on the up switched to hurdles, bagging third win in 3m Sandown handicap. Probably found Haydock coming too soon but flying too high in all likelihood here.

Form: 211U14

Hillcrest²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly| OR: 148| BF| C| D

9/4

Big chasing type who is unbeaten when completing over hurdles, galloping on strongly on first crack at 3m in Grade 2 Prestige Novices' Hurdle at Haydock. That form puts him right in the mix.

Form: 1-111U1

Mahler Mission^t⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen| T: J C McConnell| OR: 141| D

66/1

Showed improved form to open account over hurdles at third attempt in Sedgefield maiden. Took another big step forward when following up in Grade 2 at Doncaster. More needed again.

Form: 2/3211

Minella Cocooner^h⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 146

9/2

Bumper winner who confirmed hurdling debut promise when winning 16-runner maiden at Navan and looked a stayer of some potential when following up in Grade 1 at Leopardstown (22.2f). Shortlisted.

Form: 2-1211

Ramillies^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| D

28/1

Mixed record in bumpers (often finished weakly) but has made a positive start over hurdles, not hard pressed when landing odds in maiden at Punchestown. Mettle will be tested in this, though.

Form: 1586-31

Shantreusse²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| D

12/1

Confirmed promise of hurdling debut when winning novice at Cork and booked his ticket for this when following up in Grade 3 at Clonmel (3m, heavy) last month. Stamina clearly his strong suit.

Form: 21-211

Stag Horn^p⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Nick Scholfield| T: A Watson| OR: 137

22/1

Smart stayer on the Flat (good record in the mud) who impressed when winning both starts over hurdles, notably Grade 2 at Warwick. Potentially lots more to come from him in this game now up in trip.

Form: 11

The Nice Guy⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: S F O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins

18/1

Useful form when winning both starts in bumpers and maintained his unbeaten record in workmanlike fashion switched to hurdles in Naas maiden (19f). Sure to improve and will stay.

Form: 111

Where It All Began⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Adrian Heskin| T: G Elliott| OR: 128

150/1

Runner-up 3 times (bumper first 2 occasions) before coming good in 21.5f Tramore maiden. No match for Bardenstown Lad at Musselburgh since, however, and looks out of his depth here.

Form: 29-2212

Non-Runners

Falcon Eight³⁶

Weight: 11-8| Age: 7

T: D K Weld J: M P Walsh

Idas Boy⁵⁴

Weight: 11-8| Age: 8

T: N Meade J: S W Flanagan

The Real Whacker⁴⁸

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: Mrs A Duffield J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Forecasts

Hillcrest (9/4), Ginto (5/2), Minella Cocooner (9/2), Good Time Jonny (12/1), Shantreusse (12/1), Falcon Eight (16/1), The Nice Guy (18/1), Bardenstown Lad (20/1), Stag Horn (22/1), Classic Getaway (22/1), Ballygrifincottage (28/1), Ramillies (28/1), Green Book (40/1), Eric Bloodaxe (50/1), Idas Boy (50/1), The Real Whacker (50/1), Mahler Mission (66/1), Brorson (100/1), Where It All Began (150/1)

GINTO made light of the further step up in grade when completing the hat-trick in a Grade 1 at Naas in January, maintaining his unbeaten record over hurdles in the process. There's a good chance that this longer trip will bring out further improvement, so he makes plenty of appeal. Hillcrest and Minella Cocooner are both highly progressive so rate the main threats.