December 10 / 15.00 Cheltenham

15.00

Good

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

  • Prize money: £22780
  • 2m 7f 213y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV4
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Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Registered As The Bristol Novices’ Hurdle) (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain and snow

OUR TIP

Form: 467-01

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Tailed off on handicap debut at Stratford (2m2f, good; sole start with tongue tied) in October; swept that aside with a hard-fought win in a novice handicap at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) three weeks ago and another step up in trip today may well help; however, his form is not in the same parish as that of the leading contenders.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

9th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 3

16:23 Market Rasen

Accidental Legend

10st 12lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

Pulled up in his only attempts at chasing the last twice; five-time winning hurdler who's not on an impossible mark but would prefer softer ground.

16/1

3rd

9

9th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 3

16:23 Market Rasen

Accidental Legend

10st 12lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

Pulled up in his only attempts at chasing the last twice; five-time winning hurdler who's not on an impossible mark but would prefer softer ground.

16/1

6

25th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 13y

Class 4

15:42 Uttoxeter

Accidental Legend

11st 4lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

Gained three of his five hurdle wins at this track (2m4f/2m7f) but looked out of sorts and was pulled up here (2m4f, good to soft) on recent chasing debut; should be fine over today's trip but needs to rebound.

16/1

Form: 27-711 D

Last run: 55 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish maiden point winner; no messing about over shorter distances over hurdles and he's won a maiden at Kilbeggan (3m1f, good) and novice at Cork (3m, good to yielding) on last two outings; drew right away in the former and overcame a final-flight mistake in the latter; trainer does well here, including a win in this race two years ago; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

11th Oct 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 104y

15:27 Fairyhouse

Grand Soir

11st 12lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: John C McConnell

Three-time winner over hurdles in 2022; hasn't had much racing since; fourth in a Wexford beginners' chase in March but below that level at Kilbeggan next time; questions to answer.

12/1

8th

4

25th Apr 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 6f 120y

19:25 Kilbeggan

Grand Soir

11st 12lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: John C McConnell

prominent

8/1

8th

4

25th Apr 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 6f 120y

19:25 Kilbeggan

Grand Soir

11st 12lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: John C McConnell

prominent

8/1

Form: 843

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won in March on his third attempt at Irish maiden points (3m, soft); showed some ability in a bumper at Chepstow (2m, good) and novice hurdle at Hexham (2m4f, soft; last of three) but vastly more is required of him at this level, for all that 3m may well suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

20th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

17:58 Hexham

Maxs Champ

12st 0lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Winning Irish pointer; off the mark on 11th hurdle start on return to this trip to win a novice handicap at Uttoxeter last time (good); tongue-tie and blinkers were back on that day and he wears them again here; 5lb higher, but a possible.

5/2

1

20th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

17:58 Hexham

Maxs Champ

12st 0lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Winning Irish pointer; off the mark on 11th hurdle start on return to this trip to win a novice handicap at Uttoxeter last time (good); tongue-tie and blinkers were back on that day and he wears them again here; 5lb higher, but a possible.

5/2

1st

1

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

17:20 Uttoxeter

Maxs Champ

12st 0lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Samuel Drinkwater

in touch with leaders, lost position after 7th, headway after 9th, led after 2 out, kept on well, ridden out

8/1

Form: 34-121

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Had wind surgery in January and improved form in his three races since, with runaway 2m5f wins when long odds-on at Kempton and Exeter either side of his second in a Grade 2 at Chepstow (2m3f), all on good ground; not sure to be suited by 3m but he's promising and has among the best form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

15th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 203y

Class 1

14:40 Haydock

Outlaw Peter

11st 8lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Multiple winner who reacted well to the new cheekpieces when a clearcut winner of the Middle Distance Veterans' Final over C&D only 11 days ago; historically well treated despite the 6lb rise but there's a suspicion that younger limbs this time may have his measure.

11/2

1st

6

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

Outlaw Peter

11st 5lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Sent off favourite at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) four weeks ago and returned to form with 1l second to Genois, finishing clear of the remainder; wears first-time cheekpieces and he's on the shortlist.

9/1

2nd

5

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

15:40 Exeter

Outlaw Peter

11st 7lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Won notable handicaps off higher marks around this time of year two years ago but lightly raced in the meantime and has yet to offer much this season; needs a revival.

10/1

Form: 11 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish maiden point winner at fifth attempt; justified strong support over almost this far in Worcester maiden (good; hung left) on British debut and won by a street in what seemingly turned into a weak novice at Wincanton (2m5f, good) next time; useful prospect who is in serious calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

13

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Thomas Mor

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Fifth in 2023 Albert Bartlett here for David Pipe; finally built on that when second to Kitzbuhel in Kauto Star on Boxing Day (3m, good); needs to improve on that and an abscess meant he missed an engagement at Ascot 25 days ago.

50/1

15th

1

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Thomas Mor

12st 0lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

650 days off before taking the Wincanton qualifier (3m1f, good to soft; 5lb higher today) in tidy style at Christmas, always prominent; chase debut one month later wasn't great but he's respected on the former run.

50/1

Form: 1-3

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
£210,000 purchase after winning an Irish maiden point last December; Newbury bumper win (2m, soft) in March also suggested high promise and he stuck to his task extremely well when about 10l third of seven on hurdles debut in a Grade 2 novice here (2m5f, good) four weeks ago; seemingly crying out for 3m and, although principally a longer-term prospect, he should have a big shout today as well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Weveallbeencaught

11st 6lb

J: Mr J C Barry

T: E McNamara

Disappointing at Leopardstown in December last time but in good form previously for new yard, finishing second in the Munster National in October (3m, yielding to soft); 13l fourth in this race last year when he'd have been closer but for a bad late mistake; each-way shout if back on song.

16/1

11

19th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

16:15 Limerick

Weveallbeencaught

11st 0lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: E McNamara

Won a 3m Doncaster novice handicap chase in fine style for Nigel Twiston-Davies in January; second-best of the home team when fourth behind Daily Present in the Kim Muir; can be expected to improve from stable debut at Listowel; prospects of reversing form with Talk In The Park.

8/1

3

27th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 6f 0y

16:30 Listowel

Weveallbeencaught

11st 12lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: E McNamara

Won a 3m Doncaster novice handicap chase in fine style for Nigel Twiston-Davies in January; not a bad effort when last seen at Aintree in April; bought for 40,000GBP at Goffs in May; worth a market check on first start for new yard.

12/1

Verdict

Paul Nicholls must have had a few options and his Outlaw Peter has one second in a Grade 2 to his name already. However, the champion trainer does not have a great record in this race and other runners are more striking candidates for this trip. Grand Soir has shown his stamina for John McConnell, who took the prize two years ago, but he is second on the list behind the imposing WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT, who looked like he’d only just got going when he stayed on for third in a 2m5f Grade 2 novice here last month on his hurdling debut. Thomas Mor could also be a player.[Richard Austen]

Selections

RP Ratings:

Outlaw Peter

SPOTLIGHT:

Weveallbeencaught

D Express:

Thomas Mor

The Times:

Weveallbeencaught

The Guardian:

Weveallbeencaught

Daily Mirror:

Thomas Mor

TOPSPEED:

Outlaw Peter

POSTDATA:

Outlaw Peter

WEST COUNTRY:

Outlaw Peter

Telegraph:

Outlaw Peter

Daily Mail:

Outlaw Peter

The Star:

Outlaw Peter

Daily Record:

Outlaw Peter