14:25 Cheltenham

Saturday 12 December 2020

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Registered As The Bristol Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:28 | Winning time: 6m 13.06s

Ashtown Lad²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 135| D

6/4

Winning Irish pointer progressing rapidly over hurdles, having plenty in hand when scoring off a mark of 123 at Uttoxeter 3 weeks ago. More to come still and he's one to keep on the right side.

Form: 217-211

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Ask A Honey Bee¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien| OR: 131| BF| D

9/4

Useful 3-time bumper winner. Successful start to hurdle career at Wetherby and even better form when runner-up in novice events at Exeter/Newcastle. Remains with potential going up in trip.

Form: 110-122

Danny Kirwan²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 134| D

17/2

Useful bumper winner who showed promise over timber in 2018. Raced only 3 times since but got off the mark in maiden at Ascot (19.3f) 3 weeks ago. This stiffer test unlikely to suit, however.

Form: 022/6-31

Make Good^p,t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: J C McConnell| OR: 131

12/1

Fair winner on the Flat and showed much-improved form to make a winning handicap hurdle debut at Gowran, easily making all. Good chance he'll stay this far given the stamina he showed on the level.

Form: 6-02221

Pats Fancy²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss R Curtis

33/1

Placed twice in Irish points and in a bumper on debut. Took his form up a notch when making a successful debut over hurdles at Ffos Las last month and sure to progress over this longer trip.

Form: 242-261

Promising Milan⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: Nick Mitchell| D

80/1

€42,000 3-y-o by Milan out of a half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/very smart chaser (stayed 2¾m) Thyne Again. Won point on debut in November but has been set a very tall order on Rules debut.

Form: 1

Took The Lot¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 130

12/1

Bumper winner who confirmed promise of hurdling debut when easily winning a couple of novice events at Bangor. This a big step up but clearly has potential and yard has excellent record in this.

Form: 137-211

Wynn House⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 124

8/1

Fairly useful bumper winner who scored easily on hurdles bow at Bangor (19.5f) on return. However, was made to work quite hard to land odds at Ludlow since so more needed here.

Form: 1/22-11

Forecasts

Ashtown Lad (6/4), Ask A Honey Bee (9/4), Wynn House (8/1), Danny Kirwan (17/2), Make Good (12/1), Took The Lot (12/1), Pats Fancy (33/1), Promising Milan (80/1)

ASHTOWN LAD took a major step forward when easily defying an opening mark of 123 at Uttoxeter 3 weeks ago and looks the one to beat on that form with his stamina assured. Ask A Honey Bee doesn't have much to find and rates a big threat with this stiffer test sure to suit, while the progressive Took The Lot has to be respected given his yard's excellent record in this.