Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle betting

The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle is a Grade 1 race over 3m at the Cheltenham Festival in March. It was one of several new additions to the Festival in 2005 when the meeting was expanded to four days.

The emphasis is on stamina for Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle bets with 12 flights to be jumped followed by Cheltenham’s famous hill. Notable previous winners include Wichita Lineman (2007), Bobs Worth (2011), Unowhatimeanharry (2016) and Penhill (2017).

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle betting tips

Most winners of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle have been evenly split between Britain and Ireland. There have also been winners trained in France (Moulin Riche) and Scotland (Brindisi Breeze).

Around half of Albert Bartlett winners had won on their previous start before Cheltenham. Most of them had raced within two months of the Festival and several already had winning form at Cheltenham.

A key factor in assessing Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle betting tips is previous form over 3m. Almost all previous winners had at least one victory at the distance.

Most winners here had raced three times or more prior to the Festival, with one or more victories, often in a Graded race. An official rating of 140 or higher is usually required to win the Albert Bartlett.

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle betting trends

The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle proved to be a minefield for those betting on the race in the early years. There have been some very high-priced winners in the Albert Bartlett odds, including winners at 33-1 and 50-1.

The inaugural running in 2005 was won by Moulin Riche at 9/1, trained in France by Francois Doumen.

Black Jack Ketchum won as the even-money favourite for Jonjo O’Neill and Tony McCoy in 2006. The same combination followed up in 2007 with the well-backed 11/8 favourite Wichita Lineman.

Other winning favourites were Bobs Worth at 15/8 in 2011 and At Fishers Cross (11/8) in 2013. The latter was one of the most popular Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle betting tips and was a record third winner in the race for Tony McCoy.

Brindisi Breeze was 7/1 second favourite when winning for Scotland in 2012. He beat the heavily-backed 6/5 favourite Boston Bob by two lengths.

Berties Dream (2010), Very Wood (2014) and Kilbricken Storm (2018) all turned the formbook upside down to win at 33/1. Minella Indo then became the longest-priced winner of the race when winning at 50/1 in 2019.

Horses aged six and seven have proved to be the most successful. Very Wood (2014) became the first five-year-old to win the Albert Bartlett, while Unowhatimeanharry (2016) won at the age of eight.

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle ante-post betting pointers

One of the best trials for calculating your Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle tips is the Classic Novice Hurdle on Cheltenham Trials Day. Wichita Lineman, Bobs Worth and At Fishers Cross all won this race before going on to win at the Festival meeting.

Other significant trials are the Prestige Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock and the Grade 1 Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown in February. The Grade 3 Mercedes Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel produced the first and third in 2019 with Minella Indo and Allaho.

The Sefton Novice Hurdle at Aintree or the Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle at Punchestown are the main targets for Albert Bartlett winners. At Fishers Cross won the Sefton in 2013, but Nenuphar Collonges (2008) and Weapon’s Amnesty (2009) were both beaten. Very Wood (2014), Penhill (2017) and Kilbricken Storm (2018) were all beaten at Punchestown.

Penhill (2017) won the Stayers’ Hurdle in 2018 and was a leading fancy for the 2019 renewal before injury ruled him out. Check William Hill promotions for the latest price boosts, special offers and Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle odds.

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle history and memorable winners

The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle was first run in 2005 when it was won by Moulin Riche. Jonjo O’Neill and Tony McCoy teamed up successfully for the next two years with Black Jack Ketchum and Wichita Lineman.

Ireland’s first victory in the race came with Weapon’s Amnesty in 2009. He went on the win the RSA Chase, a feat matched by Nicky Henderson’s Bobs Worth in 2011-2012. He went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2013, completing a Festival hat-trick last achieved by Flyingbolt in 1964-1966.

2012 winner Brindisi Breeze was a very popular winner for Scottish trainer Lucinda Russell and young jockey Campbell Gillies. Tragically, the horse was killed in a freak roadside collision and Gillies died in an accident while holidaying with friends soon after.

At Fishers Cross won in 2013 for Rebecca Curtis and Tony McCoy. He had won a Cheltenham handicap in December, before winning the Classic Novices’ Hurdle by a neck from The New One.

Both races were in heavy ground and the horse was shortened in the Albert Bartlett odds as the rain fell at Cheltenham. He relished the soft ground and beat African Gold by four-and-a-half lengths.

Unowhatimeanharry (2016) followed a similar path to At Fishers Cross, progressing rapidly through handicaps. He featured in plenty of Cheltenham bets when winning off a mark of just 123 on his seasonal debut.

He then defied a rise of a stone in the weights over course and distance before winning off a mark of 138 at Exeter. Unowhatimeanharry was purchased by JP McManus before the new season and finished third in the Stayers’ Hurdle in 2017.

2017 winner Penhill had been a useful performer on the flat with Luca Cumani before joining Willie Mullins for his hurdling career. He was ridden by Paul Townend, with Ruby Walsh riding better-fancied stable companion Augusta Kate. Penhill came through strongly to win by three-and-a-half lengths at 16/1.

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle betting 2021

The early market leader in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle betting is the unbeaten Envoi Allen, the winner of the Champion Bumper at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival. Gordon Elliott trains the son of Muhtathir for the Cheveley Park Stud.

He was forced to battle to repel the challenge of Blue Sari, with Thyme Hill in third place and Abacadabras in fourth. It remains to be seen how he fares over hurdles, but he seems assured of a big future.

Blue Sari narrowly failed to provide Willie Mullins with an incredible 10th Champion Bumper winner and he also looks likely to make his mark over hurdles next season. Mullins will have his usual strong team of novices and will be keen to add to the solitary success of Penhill in this race.

Thyme Hill is a stoutly-bred son of Kayf Tara trained by Philip Hobbs. Connections must have been thrilled with his run at Cheltenham, beaten only two-and-a-half lengths. Abacadabras had run out on his previous start at Leopardstown and still has plenty of improvement in him.

Joseph O’Brien is already making his mark as a trainer, both on the flat and over jumps. He has an exciting prospect in Midnight Run, a son of Well Chosen out of a mare by Alderbrook. He caught the eye when second to Envoi Allen at Navan in December and made no mistake at Naas next time.

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