14:50 Cheltenham

Friday 17 March 2017

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

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

Off time: 14:51 | Winning time: 5m 49.50s

Ami Desbois^t⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 144

33/1

Ran well here earlier in the season and looks versatile ground wise. Suited by a test of stamina and they should go a decent enough clip here but does have to reverse the form with Wholestone from their run here earlier in the season and that rival has gone from strength to strength so vulnerable for win purposes.

Form: 238-112

Any Drama^p1²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 144

25/1

Didn't need to improve to win at Exeter last time but he doesn't look like the easiest character to ride. However, first time cheekpieces could help and he does have the assistance of Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase winning jockey in the saddle. May struggle to get an early lead though.

Form: 05316-

Baden⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 130

100/1

Took a while to get off the mark over hurdles when winning at Wetherby in December but will need a whole lot more to get competitive in this and yard have a better chance with their other runner.

Form: 5-351P0

C'Est Jersey^p⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: R M Power| T: W P Mullins

100/1

Ran respectably in three maiden hurdles in Ireland since joining this yard but that level of form doesn't look good enough to get involved here. Step up in trip will help but looks like the stable fourth string.

Form: 42-2310

Constantine Bay⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 142

12/1

Point-to-point winner who is putting together a very nice profile since switching to rules, winning novice contests at Haydock, Chepstow and Doncaster most recently when putting up a game performance. Showed he acted on good ground there but gives the impression he's better with cut and looks unlikely to get that here.

Form: 21-1

Death Duty⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: B J Cooper| T: G Elliott| OR: 148

13/8

Gone from strength to strength this year and step up in trip likely to bring about further improvement. Yard are flying and he sets a good standard on form but there's a question mark over whether he'll be as good on this likely ground.

Form: 2-1111U

Elegant Escape⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 139

100/1

Yard have gone quiet of late and well beaten by Wholestone last time. Hard to see him turning the form around despite a return to faster ground likely to suit.

Form: 2-11

Monalee⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D J Mullins| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 139

8/1

Chased home Death Duty two starts back and very little wrong with that form. Looked in need of a step up in trip and duly scored last time when winning easily at Clonmel. Ran well on yielding ground in Ireland on his only start on ground better than soft so could well do better on expected good ground. Jockey has been in fine form this season and the duo could go well at a price.

Form: 2-21212

Penhill⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 138

16/1

Stayed this trip well at Limerick when last seen and there could be more to come at this level but can't get away with his normal jumping errors in this field and Walsh prefers Augusta Kate.

Form: 111411

Step Back²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: J E Moore| T: M Bradstock

100/1

Useful in the point-to-point sphere and won well at Ludlow on debut under rules but needs plenty more in this. Jockey booking a positive and stamina assured but he's hard to fancy.

Form: 121-119

The Worlds End²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 146

10/1

Going well this year and versatile ground wise but Grade 2 he won last year doesn't look like the strongest piece of form in the book. Yard not been among the winner's at the Festival in recent times and the level of his form may be a little below what is required here.

Form: F1-

Tommy Rapper³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 136

33/1

Looked like a smart prospect in a pair of bumpers but jumping hasn't looked good enough in three starts over hurdles to take a hand here. Remains to be seen whether step up in trip will help and hard to fancy.

Form: 22-U2

Turcagua^h1⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140

66/1

Ran well against Death Duty two starts back but disappointing last time at Clonmel and he'll do well to reverse the form with the aforementioned rival. First-time hood may help but jumping has let him down on occasions and he would appear to be down the pecking order on jockey bookings.

Form: 0-4312P

Wholestone⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 145

13/2

Appears to love this course having won three of his four starts here and finished runner-up on the other. Two of those wins came over C&D and faster ground will hold no fears. Looks like there's still more in the locker and he'll be tough to beat if he improves at all.

Form: F-11211

Augusta Kate⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins

11/2

Sole mare in the line-up who won Listed Bumper at Punchestown last year but fell against Death Duty last time at Naas. Still in with every chance that day and if she's no worse for the fall she becomes an interesting contender having already proven herself on quicker ground.

Form: 2-11F61

Forecasts

Death Duty (13/8), Augusta Kate (11/2), Wholestone (13/2), Monalee (8/1), The Worlds End (10/1), Constantine Bay (12/1), Penhill (16/1), Any Drama (25/1), Ami Desbois (33/1), Tommy Rapper (33/1), Turcagua (66/1), Elegant Escape (100/1), Step Back (100/1), C'Est Jersey (100/1), Baden (100/1)

Death Duty is likely to be popular given the week his trainer has been enjoying so far. There aren't many holes in his form but a question mark does linger over how he'll react on what is set to quicker ground. Augusta Kate was matching him stride for stride when she departed at the final flight in a Grade 1 novice contest at Naas last time out. With Ruby Walsh in blistering form yesterday, the only mare in the line-up shouldn't be discounted and she is proven on quicker ground. While that pair provide a strong Irish challenge, this may go to the home team with WHOLESTONE. Trained locally, he relishes this track and has three wins and a second from four visits, including two over C&D. There could well be more to come from him, though his form up to now gives him leading claims. Monalee and Constantine Bay may be best of the rest for what is sure to be a searching test.