Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle Free Bets Tips

The Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle is run on Gold Cup day at the festival. It usually attracts classy staying types who develop into decent chasers, as previous winners prove. The last three winners have gone on to bigger and better things over the larger obstacles, Weapons Amnesty (2009), Nenuphar Collonges (2008) and the ill-fated Wichita Lineman (2007).

English trainers have won three of the last five runnings, the Irish have one and the French one too. Charles Byrnes broke the Irish duck in this race last year, winning with this years RSA Chase fancy, Weapons Amnesty.

Albert Bartlet Novices Hurdle Free Bets

The Irish again have a competitive bunch going over with the Willie Mullins trained Enterprise Park leading the line. Paul Nolan’s Shinrock Paddy is also fancied. However, the U.K trainers hold the ace with the Tom George trained Tell Massini.

Tell Massini,  at 9/2 with Paddy Power has been one of the most impressive novices all season, right up there with Dunguib in my opinion.

He has only raced three times in his career, winning all three with quite a bit in hand, jumping superbly throughout. He seems to have it all, class, stamina and speed. A further asset to his already huge arsenal is he has won twice round Cheltenham.

He beat Reve De Sivloa easily by eight lengths in November. That form has since been franked with the runner up winning the grade one Challow Hurdle. The form looks rock solid and visually the horse has impressed. The son of Dr. Massini should also welcome better ground, where he can use his slick jumping and speed. A great bet and great value at 9-2.

I really can’t see any of the English horses getting close to Tell Massini but the Irish might give him most to think about.

Enterprise Park at 7/1 with Sportingbet heads the Irish challenge and should go well.

From the powerful Mullins/Walsh stable, the son of Goldmark has been quite impressive winning all three of his starts. He managed to win a bumper despite having so much stamina in his pedigree. He’s from the family of Risk Of Thunder and The Listener, so he won’t wilt coming up the Cheltenham hill.

He has won both starts over timber nicely, with both races having the form franked. What strikes me about Enterprise Park is his sire. He’s by Goldmark whose progeny are generally flat bred and like good ground. This injection of speed along with the forecast good ground could bring out huge improvement. A live each-way chance.

Another Irish contender with live hopes is Shinrock Paddy at 8/1 with Paddy Power.

Trained by Paul Nolan, the son of Deploy looks to be progressing very nicely. He won the Sandra and Barry Kelly Novice Hurdle, a grade one event, by fifteen lengths, impressively. That day he took the step up in trip in his stride, staying on strongly at the business end of the race.

There are stamina concerns with Paul Nolan’s horse stepping up a further half mile. I wouldn’t be too concerned though, as Shinrock Paddy has won over three miles on heavy ground in points. A further positive is he has ran well round Cheltenham on both starts there, winning a listed bumper in 2008, before running well behind Dunguib in last years Champion Bumper. Like Enterprise Park, he has a flat pedigree. He’s by Deploy and is out of a King’s Theatre mare, the good ground will be welcomed. Expect a big run.

Of the rest entered up I can’t see much getting into the race. One to note though is The Betchworth Kid at 10/1 with Bet365.

Formerly trained on the flat by Michael Bell, he is now in the hands of Alan King. He was quite a decent horse on the flat, rated 104. He seems to have transferred his ability to hurdles, jumping well in the main. The better ground and bigger field will suit but I think the market leaders will come up the hill better.

All in all it’s hard to get away from Tell Massini. He has impressed me with everything he’s done and is the best U.K horse in the race by a country mile. The better ground is only going to aid his cause and he will be very tough to beat. Only the Irish horses can beat him and of the two, I’d have to favour Shinrock Paddy.

Strictly on form, he is ahead of Enterprise Park, on a form line through Rhyl Accord and Hugo De Vindecy. But I still can’t see him beating Tell Massini. Get on!!