14:30 Cheltenham

Saturday 16 December 2017

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

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

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 6m 4.50s

1^st

Kilbricken Storm

610-12

3/1

T: C L TizzardJ: H Cobden

Held up, in touch 4th, went 2nd before 2 out, hanging left from before last, closed 150 yards out and still hanging, led final 80 yards, ended up of far side but well in command close home op 11/4

2^nd

2 ¾

Count Meribel

511-1

7/4f

T: N & W Twiston-DaviesJ: M D Grant

Led, clear after 3 out until mistake 2 out, 2 1/2 lengths clear after last, ridden and reduced lead 150 yards out, headed final 80 yards, kept on op 9/4

3^rd

Equus Secretus

510-12

9/4

T: B PaulingJ: David Bass

Took keen hold, tracked leader after 1st until after 3 out, soon beaten, weakened before next op 2/1

4^th

Global Stage

610-12

11/2

T: F O'BrienJ: P J Brennan

2nd until after 1st, tracked leaders, mistake 6th, not fluent 8th, closed before 3 out, weakened 2 out op 6/1 tchd 7/1

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Non-Runners

Aye Aye Charlie²⁹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 5

T: F O'Brien J: Conor Shoemark

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£3.80EX:£10.10Trifecta:£13.00SF:£8.60

Forecasts

Count Meribel (7/4), Equus Secretus (9/4), Kilbricken Storm (3/1), Global Stage (11/2), Aye Aye Charlie (12/1)

The unbeaten Equus Secretus will be keen to get on with things here and showed a willing attitude at Southwell last time when a question was asked. He isn't dismissed easily but COUNT MERIBEL has improved with each start this season and count solid hurdling amongst his assets. His trainer remains in good form and he could be capable of halting Ben Pauling's charge now. Global Stage and Kilbricken Storm are potential improvers, though they'll need to do just that to land the spoils.

Count Meribel
Equus Secretus
Kilbricken Storm

Previous Winners

2016

Wholestone

Weight: 11-5 |Age: 5

J: D A Jacob | T: N & W Twiston-Davies

13/8

Prize Money

1st: £17,085.002nd: £6,411.003rd: £3,210.004th: £1,599.005th: £804.006th: £402.00