14:40 Haydock
Saturday 14 February 2026
All12:5513:2814:0514:4015:1515:5016:30
Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)
- 5YO plus  |  Class 1  |  3m 58y  |  10 Runners  |  Turf
Cloth number
Odds
Star rating
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Showed a good attitude when landing a double over 2m6f at Cartmel in the summer and showed much improved form when narrowly beaten at C&D before Christmas, likely to have won had he jumped better. Limitations exposed in Graded company last time, though.
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Point/useful bumper winner who is progressing over hurdles, getting off the mark at the third attempt in convincing fashion Sedgefield (19.8f) on Boxing Day. Improved further upped to 3m when winning 10-runner handicap hurdle at this C&D (good to soft) 28 days ago and he's a leading player.
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£130,000 Irish point recruit who showed a willing attitude to get off the mark at the second time of asking over hurdles in a 21f Kempton novice in November. Not disgraced in Cheltenham Grade 2 subsequently and placed again behind Whiskey Yankee at Ascot last time but more needed to land this.
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£100,000 Irish point winner who finished an encouraging second in bumper at Worcester in October. Quickened nicely to go one place better switched to hurdling a month later and showed a good attitude to follow up at Fontwell (19.1f, soft) 34 days ago. Should stay this far and can progress again.
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Not the prettiest to watch (goes in snatches) but clearly has a decent level of ability, confirming the promise of his Leicester second when going one better in a 4-runner novice at Utoxeter (soft) on New Year's Eve. Will be very well suited if this turns into a real stamina test.
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Cost 200,000 gns after finishing runner-up in sole Irish point. Built on the promise of his hurdling debut at second attempt when running out an impressive winner of a 15-runner novice hurdle at Kempton (21f, soft) 12 days ago. More to come and he's highly respected stepping up in grade.
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Placed in points and progressive over hurdles, making a winning return in a good time in a Bangor novice (23.1f), impressing with his jumping. Disappointed on chase bow but quickly back on track returned to hurdling when second in novice behind Ubatuba at Leicester. This is tougher, though.
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Useful stayer on Flat at best. Made a winning start over hurdles over 2½m at Hexham in December but only third under a penalty at Kelso since. Drop to 2m clearly unsuitable here last time and he could well do better back up in trip, for all improvement is surely required.
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Successful on completed start in Irish points and created a good impression when landing 8-runner maiden hurdle at Leicester (heavy) on Rules debut at the beginning of December. Comprehensively got the better of Skuna Bay there later in the month and he rates a potentially smart prospect.
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Shaped encouragingly when second in 5-runner bumper at Ffos Las (15.8f) on debut in the spring. Easy to back but overcame inexperience when making a successful hurdling bow at Ascot (21.7f) 4 weeks ago and he's well worth being pitched straight into Grade 2 this time.
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Forecasts
Reckless Spending (3/1), Dalston Lad (7/2), Ubatuba (5/1), Lon Chaney (6/1), Whiskey Yankee (7/1), Legendary Luke (7/1), Kasino Des Mottes (14/1), Skuna Bay (20/1), Tashkhan (25/1), Caughtinyourtrance (50/1)
It took RECKLESS SPENDING three attempts to get off the mark over hurdles but so impressive was he at Kempton 12 days ago that he's fancied to land this Grade 2 prize. Several of his opposition rate as potential improvers, with the most feared being Dalston Lad, who arrives here seeking a hat-trick on the back of a recent C&D success in a good-quality handicap hurdle. The unbeaten Olly Murphy gelding Ubatuba rounds off the shortlist.
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £45,560.002nd: £17,096.003rd: £8,560.004th: £4,264.005th: £2,144.006th: £1,072.00
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