Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Spa Novices' Hurdle) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5YO plus)
2m 7f 213y Soft (Good to Soft in places)
chased leaders, went 2nd 8th, led 2 out, over 1 length ahead when left clear at the last, ridden and stayed on gamely run-in, all out
held up towards rear, good headway on inside chasing leaders turning in, left in 2nd at the last, stayed on gamely run-in, not reach winner
held up in mid-division, steady headway tracking leaders before 2 out, pushed along in 3rd on long run to the last, soon ridden, weakened into 4th before the last
held up off the pace towards rear, good headway out wide chasing leaders home turn, ridden when left in 3rd at the last, stayed on run-in, closed on 2nd but not reach winner
chased leaders, went 2nd after 2 out until ridden on long run to the last, weakened soon after, plugged on pressing for modest 4th
chased leader, slight lead 3rd until before 6th, lost 2nd at 8th, chased leaders, ridden and weakened on long run to the last
off the pace and always towards rear, never involved
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 2 out, weakened rapidly home turn, tailed off and eased
raced wide in mid-division, not fluent 6th, hung left and weakened soon after 2 out
held up off the pace towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before the last
held up towards rear, smooth headway tracking leaders going well before 2 out, went 2nd turning in, pushed along and over 1 length down when ran out last
held up off the pace towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before the last
chased leaders out wide, led before 6th until 2 out, weakened quickly turning in, pulled up on run to the last
raced keenly in mid-division, headway chasing leaders after 3rd, weakened 3 out, tailed off and pulled up on run to the last
off the pace towards rear, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next
behind, awkward at 7th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next
slight lead on inside until jumped slowly and headed 3rd, chased leaders, ridden and weakened quickly home turn, tailing off when pulled up before the last
never closer than mid-division, tailed off 3 out, pulled up after next
well placed until squeezed out approaching 1st, towards rear and never travelling after, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
mid-division out wide, pushed along and lost place after 3 out, weakened before next, pulled up soon after 2 out
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| Betfair SP | £21.00 |
| CSF | £1,587.40 (17, 1) |
| Tricast | £52,244.10 (17, 1, 13) |
| Win | £19.00 (17) |
| Place | £4.10 (17), £29.00 (1), £7.00 (13) |
| Swinger | £369.40 (1, 13), £203.90 (1, 17), £56.20 (13, 17) |
| Exacta | £2,820.00 (17, 1) |
| Trifecta | £29,605.20 (17, 1, 13) |
A race that usually takes quite a bit less winning than the Supreme or Ballymore, and that seems to be the case again this year, but which often features a number of longer-term prospects (Stattler, Allaho and Santini have all been beaten in it in recent years). It ended up being a thorough test, with the second-slowest finish of the Festival – behind the Hunters’ Chase – in relative as well as absolute terms (96.3% finishing speed).
STAY AWAY FAY (h150 here, 136 previously) thrived faced with such a thorough test of stamina, running about a stone better than he had in defeat at Doncaster and seeing out the race remarkably well given he had been up with the pace throughout, leading again between the last 2 and staying on dourly. He looks a smart prospect for fences at this trip and further.
AFFORDALE FURY (h149 here, 139 previously) was back to form and well suited by the thorough test, kept to the inner mostly in mid-field, briefly short of room after 2 out and staying on well thereafter.
SANDOR CLEGANE (h149 here, 142 previously) looks a good prospect for staying chases next season but may have another good run or 2 in him over hurdles before then, held up and staying on from 2 out, seeing out his race much better than he had at Leopardstown the time before.
LETSBECLEARABOUTIT (h145 here, 137 previously) ran his best race by some way despite not seeing it out quite as well as 1 or 2 others, improving from mid to rear and bang there still travelling quite well after 2 out, no extra late on.
THREE CARD BRAG (h145 here, 148 previously) is about as good a prospect as any in this field for chasing, finishing out of the first 3 for the first time but close to form despite not seeing things out as well as well as some, close up, disputing the lead 2 out but one paced from approaching the last. This trip, rather than shorter, should suit him in the fullness of time.
THOMAS MOR (h143 here, 140 previously) has looked useful in every race bar the Challow (was very well treated when winning a handicap at Ascot the time before), close up and still with every chance 2 out, stuck out wide thereafter and one paced.
WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT (h135 here, 139 previously) ran a rather odd race for one with form at shorter, getting outpaced after 3 out but passing rivals late on, not far below his best.
SHANBALLY KID (h106 here, 133 previously) shaped as if this might have been too far in these circumstances.
HIDDENVALLEY LAKE (h104 here, 145 previously) ran poorly in a first-time tongue tie, though was not too far back, out wide, 2 out.
DAWN RISING (h0 here, 142 previously)
SEABANK BISTRO (h0 here, 137 previously)
FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU (h0 here, 141 previously)
CHIANTI CLASSICO (h0 here, 138 previously) found this too much but remains of interest returned to handicaps, in which sphere he remains on a feasible mark.
CORBETTS CROSS (h149 here, 148 previously) was running well when ducking out at the final flight, about a length down and still in there fighting at the time, likely to have made it tough for the winner thereafter but probably just inferior to that one. He had been held up mid to rear and impressed with how strongly he travelled for a long way. A versatile type, his form is rock solid, and he should continue to do well.
EMBASSY GARDENS (h0 here, 147 previously) ran a lot better than the result and is one of the better prospects in this field, not least for chasing, travelling strongly up with the pace (not fluent at a few) until feeling the pinch after 2 out and eased off, ultimately pulled up.
IDALKO BIHOUE (h0 here, 132 previously)
MONTY’S STAR (h0 here, 139 previously)
ROCK MY WAY (h0 here, 138 previously) shaped like a non-stayer, prominent for a long way but weakening quickly after 2 out.
SAINT PALAIS (h0 here, 131 previously)
SEARCH FOR GLORY (h0 here, 131 previously)
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Good to Soft | 16 | The Nice Guy | 7 | 11 8 | - | 111 | 47 days | W P Mullins | Sean O'Keeffe | 18/ 1 | 5:53.58 | |
| 2021 | Good to Soft | 16 | Vanillier | 6 | 11 5 | - | P1-2120 | 41 days | G Cromwell | Mark Walsh | 14/ 1 | 6:01.65 | |
| 2020 | Soft | 19 | Monkfish | 6 | 11 5 | - | P1-2211 | 54 days | W P Mullins | Paul Townend | 5/ 1 | 5:57.96 | |
| 2019 | Good to Soft | 20 | Minella Indo | 6 | 11 5 | - | 13-32 | 29 days | H De Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore | 50/ 1 | 5:57.42 | |
| 2018 | Soft | 20 | Kilbricken Storm | 7 | 11 5 | - | 5-13113 | 76 days | C Tizzard (83 miles) | Harry Cobden | 33/ 1 | 6:13.60 | |
| 2017 | Good | 15 | Penhill | 6 | 11 5 | - | 611141 | 78 days | W P Mullins | Paul Townend | 16/ 1 | 5:49.50 | |
| 2016 | Good | 19 | Unowhatimeanharry | 8 | 11 5 | - | 7P-1111 | 33 days | H Fry (106 miles) | Noel Fehily | 11/ 1 | 5:48.10 | |
| 2015 | Soft | 19 | Martello Tower | 7 | 11 7 | - | 1-11F12 | 47 days | Mags Mullins | Adrian Heskin | 14/ 1 | 6:00.30 | |
| 2014 | Good | 18 | Very Wood | 5 | 11 7 | - | 11-1253 | 68 days | N Meade | Paul Carberry | 33/ 1 | 5:50.50 | |
| 2013 | Soft | 13 | At Fishers Cross | 6 | 11 7 | - | 25-1111 | 48 days | R Curtis (124 miles) | A P McCoy | 11/ 8 | 6:40.10 | |
| 2012 | Good | 20 | Brindisi Breeze | 6 | 11 7 | - | B12111 | 27 days | L Russell (363 miles) | C Gillies | 7/ 1 | 5:47.10 | |
| 2011 | Good | 18 | Bobs Worth | 6 | 11 7 | - | 21-111 | 48 days | N Henderson (51 miles) | B J Geraghty | 15/ 8 | 5:42.00 | |
| 2010 | Good | 20 | Berties Dream | 7 | 11 7 | - | 112F34 | 33 days | P Gilligan | A Lynch | 33/ 1 | 5:55.70 | |
| 2009 | Good to Soft | 17 | Weapon's Amnesty | 6 | 11 7 | - | 25-5112 | 47 days | C Byrnes | Davy Russell | 8/ 1 | 5:59.90 | |
| 2008 | Good to Soft | 18 | Nenuphar Collonges | 7 | 11 7 | - | F21-212 | 62 days | A King (44 miles) | R Thornton | 9/ 1 | 6:00.20 | |
| 2007 | Good to Soft | 20 | Wichita Lineman | 6 | 11 7 | - | 08-1211 | 48 days | Jonjo O'Neill (1 miles) | A P McCoy | 11/ 8 | 5:43.60 | |
| 2006 | Good | 20 | Black Jack Ketchum | 7 | 11 7 | - | 11-111 | 97 days | Jonjo O'Neill (1 miles) | A P McCoy | 5:38.30 | ||
| 2005 | Good | 20 | Moulin Riche | 5 | 11 7 | - | F62162 | 27 days | F Doumen | R Thornton | 9/ 1 | 5:55.80 |
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