14:50 Cheltenham

Friday 15 March 2019

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

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

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 5m 57.42s

Allaho²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| BF| D

8/1

Disappointed in a bumper at Leopardstown (fourth) on Boxing Day but is considered to be a chaser in the making; much wiser on hurdles debut at Clonmel (3m, Grade 3) when beating Minella Indo by 4L; strong likelihood of further improvement.

Form: 2-41

Ask Ben²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 137| D

33/1

Sprung a 50/1 surprise when winning the French Furze at Newcastle in December (form franked); unable to match the finishing kick of Lisnagar Oscar when beaten 10L (second) in the 3m Grade 2 Prestige (Haydock); soft ground ideal.

Form: 52-1V12

Aye Aye Charlie^t⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 140WS

33/1

Sole win came at Kelso in November (2m6f+) at very prohibitive odds; work to do with Rockpoint and Lisnagar Oscar based on December C&D form; in deep in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle latest (sixth); fresh from wind surgery.

Form: 74-2166

Birchdale⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| OR: 146| C| D

6/1

Point-to-point winner; unbeaten in two starts under rules since joining Nicky Henderson and JP McManus; in contention when left clear at the final flight by Brewin'upastorm in the Ballymore Trial (2m4f, good to soft) here in January.

Form: 1-11

Cap York²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: B J Cooper| T: N Meade| OR: 144| D

33/1

Clearly stays very well and handles cut underfoot; steps up in grade after winning a 3m handicap (Pertemps Qualifier) at Punchestown in February - probably flattered by the winning margin of 3¼L.

Form: 26/141

Commander Of Fleet⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 143| D

4/1

3-4 under rules (2-3 over hurdles); tasted Grade 1 success when bravely fending off Rhinestone up the extended run-in at Leopardstown (2m6f). In excellent hands, so probable that he'll continue to progress with stamina seemingly being his forte.

Form: 11-141

Darlac^p1²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 137

100/1

His only win came in a fast ground 2m3f+ Fontwell maiden in October. However, his standout effort was when beaten 3½L by the mare Alsa Mix at Sandown in December (2m4f, heavy); wears first-time cheekpieces; unlikely.

Form: 7-14277

Derrinross^t⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: L P Dempsey| T: J P Dempsey| OR: 146| D

12/1

Rock-solid since switched to hurdling; has returned to action better than ever this season with back-to-back Grade 2 & 3 3m wins at Cork and Limerick (soft/heavy); shouldn't be underestimated returning fresh from a 76-day absence.

Form: 3/422-11

Dickie Diver²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N J Henderson| OR: 143| D

14/1

Cost £210,000; runner-up on rules debut at Chepstow (2m3½f, good to soft) when unfortunate to be beaten a head by Lisnagar Oscar; decisive odds-on maiden winner back there the following month; clearly a talent; today's step up in trip is a plus.

Form: 1-21

Dinons¹¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 146| BF| CD

9/1

Progressed quickly over hurdles during the early months of the season, notching a five-timer when taking a Class 2 C&D contest by 14L in October; valid excuse (badly hampered) at Navan the following month; off since; prowess on soft a concern.

Form: 111117

Dorrells Pierji⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: N D Fehily| T: W P Mullins| OR: 139| BF| D

25/1

Dual hurdles winner (2m4f+); coughing post-race when flopping behind Derrinross at Limerick in December, but appeared a doubtful stayer when weakening to finish eighth of sixteen to Commander Of Fleet/Rhinestone at Leopardstown (2m6f+).

Form: 115168

First Approach^p⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Flanagan| T: N Meade| OR: 139| D

25/1

Left alone at the final flight (by likely winner Cool Saint) when recording a second win over hurdles in January (2m6f+ Thurles); stayed on from the rear when finishing a never nearer 7L fourth to Commander Of Fleet/Rhinestone latest; new trip.

Form: 214614

Lisnagar Oscar²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: S Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 145| D

13/2

Unable to reel in Rockpoint in a trial for this race (beaten 2¾L) in December; has thrived since beating Dickie Diver by a head at Chepstow (2m3½f); stormed clear in the 3m Grade 2 Prestige at Haydock (good) latest; solid chance.

Form: 1-32211

Minella Indo²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| BF| D

50/1

Point-to-point winner who finished third in a Punchestown bumper behind the Ballymore winner City Island; 3lb better off with today's rival Allaho for a 4L defeat in a 3m Grade 2 contest at Clonmel in February; remains unexposed.

Form: 13-32

Nadaitak^p⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 141| D

33/1

Former Flat racer (87-rated); 2-4 over hurdles (2m-3m); has been kept almost exclusively to a sound surface on Town Moor at Doncaster - beat Truckers Lodge by 22L in the Grade 2 River Don in January; rates as vulnerable on soft.

Form: 4121

Rhinestone^t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Mark Walsh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 144

17/2

Ninth of 23 in last year's Champion Bumper; off the mark over hurdles at the first attempt in a big-field maiden at Naas (2m) before aiming higher; narrowly beaten by Commander Of Fleet in a 2m6f Grade 1 at Leopardstown last month; new trip.

Form: 129-142

Rockpoint²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 136| CD

33/1

Got the better of Lisnagar Oscar when winning the trial for this race over C&D in December (good to soft). However, hasn't progressed since whilst the runner-up has thrived, handsomely reversing those placings in the 3m Grade 2 Prestige (Haydock).

Form: 202146

Stoney Mountain²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: H D Daly| OR: 136

16/1

Finished well down the field (16th of 23) at odds of 100/1 in last year's Champion Bumper; 2-5 over hurdles; has plenty of previous with many of today's rivals including Aye Aye Charlie, Rockpoint, Lisnagar Oscar and Ask Ben; needs more.

Form: 1-12123

Alsa Mix^h⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 135| D

100/1

Has proved herself as a fine purchase at a cost of £65,000; gutsy Grade 2 winner in heavy ground at Sandown in December (beat Darlac by 3½L); lost her unbeaten record in the Grade 1 Challow (Newbury) 76-days ago; can she bounce back?

Form: 1-1116

Salsaretta⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 137

25/1

Stablemate of Allaho and Dorrells Pierji; 2-4 for Willie Mullins, with her best performance coming when beating Felix Desjy by 3½L at Limerick (2m4f, soft/hvy) in December; unseated her rider early in Commander Of Fleet's race latest; new trip.

Form: 2/F5-11U

Forecasts

Commander Of Fleet (4/1), Birchdale (6/1), Lisnagar Oscar (13/2), Allaho (8/1), Rhinestone (17/2), Dinons (9/1), Derrinross (12/1), Dickie Diver (14/1), Stoney Mountain (16/1), Salsaretta (25/1), First Approach (25/1), Dorrells Pierji (25/1), Aye Aye Charlie (33/1), Cap York (33/1), Ask Ben (33/1), Nadaitak (33/1), Rockpoint (33/1), Minella Indo (50/1), Darlac (100/1), Alsa Mix (100/1)

The Irish have their sights set on this prize with Mullins (x3), Elliott (x2) and O'Brien among those with well fancied runners. The Commander Of Fleet/Rhinestone/First Approach form-line is undoubtedly an appealing one, as is the Allaho/Minella Indo Clonmel clash. However, the home contingent also hold a very strong hand courtesy of the thriving Lisnagar Oscar and the Henderson-duo Birchdale and DICKIE DIVER. The selection doesn't possess the array of experience of plenty of others in the line-up but he's absolutely tanked through his races at Chepstow, should be suited by stepping up in trip and is clearly a most exciting prospect.