December 14 / 15.00 Cheltenham

15.00

Good To Soft

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

  • Prize money: £31322.5
  • 2m 7f 213y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
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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: Partly cloudy

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 13-312

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Third foal; dam placed in French 2m1f-2m2f hurdle races, half-sister to French 2m6f Grade 2 chase winner Crystal Beach and 2m3f-3m1f Grade 1 hurdle winner Questarabad; 3-10 in French bumpers, close third in Grade 1 over 1m4f in September; 1-4 in French hurdle races, showing he stays 2m2f well in the mud, and he changed hands and stables for 220,000euros nearly four weeks ago; should be suited by further than that and he's one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

11

14th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Jet Blue

11st 7lb

J: James Reveley

T: D Cottin

Won three of his ten bumpers in France and also a 2m2f hurdle race in October; moved stables after changing hands for 220,000euros in November and a month later created quite an impression when decisively winning a Grade 2 here (good to soft) on his first foray over 3m, with subsequent Grade 2 winner Yellow Car left trailing in his wake; winning course form has regularly featured on successful CVs in this race and he's accrued plenty of experience; hard to knock.

7/1

OUR TIP

4/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 2/7-11

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Caused a 22-1 surprise at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) on hurdling debut and followed up in five-runner novice at Ascot (2m5f, good) three weeks later in November; carries his head high but had to battle for both wins and this new trip may well suit; can do better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

14

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Western Knight

10st 10lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Failed to complete a hat-trick but was far from discredited at Ascot (3m, good to soft) last time in the Reynoldstown, which was won 12 months earlier by a stablemate who subsequently finished second in the Ultima at this meeting; may have more to offer back down in distance, being 4-4 at 2m3f-2m5f; the tea leaves are signalling that he'll run well.

28/1

2nd

4

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

13:50 Ascot

Western Knight

11st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Joe Tizzard

Record of 2-3 since switched to fences, most recently scoring at Doncaster (2m3f, soft); has form at up to 3m; open to further improvement and his stable has a good record in this contest; interesting.

3/1

1st

3

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 31y

Class 3

13:15 Doncaster

Western Knight

11st 8lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Runner-up in Grade 2 novice hurdle last season and he left his chase debut well behind to win a three-runner beginners' chase at Haydock (2m5f, good to soft) last month; open to further improvement and could have a big say in a first-time tongue-tie; showed promise on soft ground in a bumper.

4/1

Form: 1215 BF

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
British maiden point winner who has won over about 2m6f at Newton Abbot and Fontwell in two of his four runs over hurdles; 2m3f handicap on latest start was probably too short (soundly beaten favourite) and 3m may help, but others perhaps have more potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

19

14th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Yellow Car

11st 7lb

J: Nick Slatter

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Found 2m3f too sharp a test three runs back but progressive otherwise this season at up to 3m and he had Ma Shantou and Jig's Forge behind when digging deepest in a Grade 2 at Doncaster last time (3m, good to soft); this demands a whole lot more and he has plenty to find with Jet Blue on their clash here in December.

33/1

1st

7

25th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 1

14:05 Doncaster

Yellow Car

11st 0lb

J: Nick Slatter

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

towards rear but in touch with leaders

14/1

Form: 1 D

Last run: 59 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
£150,000 purchase in February after his win in an Irish maiden point; soft ground again when he asserted in clearcut style on the run-in for 2m7f novice hurdle at Worcester in October, which was just a four-runner race and the form is not easy to pin down but he should improve, including with his jumping, and looks a useful prospect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

17th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

12:40 Windsor

Clondaw General

11st 5lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

in touch with leaders, lost ground after 3 out

11/4

4th

1

17th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

12:40 Windsor

Clondaw General

11st 5lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

in touch with leaders, lost ground after 3 out, went modest fourth run-in

11/4

Form: 111111 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who's won his last six races, four of them handicaps before returning to novice grade twice last month; stays 3m; the ease of his recent wins (all on good ground) has been quite something and gives him the best form going into this, his first Graded race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

10th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

18:41 Worcester

Skyjack Hijack

10st 13lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Front-runner whose 2024 six-timer came over longer trips than today's; no evidence in three runs since a 14-month absence that he retains sufficient ability to figure here; gains cheekpieces and a tongue-tie.

20/1

3

16th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

18:50 Uttoxeter

Skyjack Hijack

11st 6lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Jennie Candlish

Went up 41lb for his six wins in staying hurdles in 2024; was subsequently absent for 441 days and hasn't run anything like as well since.

16/1

6th

1

24th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 3

15:47 Perth

Skyjack Hijack

12st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

On a roll in the second half of 2024, rattling off six straight wins (2m5f-3m1f), but pulled up on belated return at Kelso at the end of February; entitled to strip fitter but can still only watch.

20/1

Form: 1

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Second in an Irish maiden point (3m, soft) in January and made £50,000 in February; 7-1 from 12-1 for a maiden hurdle at Carlisle (2m4f, soft) last month and made it a winning debut under rules, going on two out before holding on by a head; the 9l third won well on starts either side; promising.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

15th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 210y

Class 3

18:55 Aintree

Aboutdamntime

11st 5lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Record of 2-6 over fences and when beaten at Kelso last time that was at the hands of an improver (3m2f, good to soft); gets in off the same mark here and could be a factor

15/2

2nd

4

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 39y

Class 2

15:13 Kelso

Aboutdamntime

10st 12lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Has won two of his five chases and reportedly appreciated the drier surface (good to soft) when prevailing narrowly over 3m at Ludlow last time; off only 3lb higher and open to further progress, he's seriously considered.

3/1

1st

6

26th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 3

14:07 Ludlow

Aboutdamntime

11st 0lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Won three-runner contest at Catterick (3m1f, good) in November and probably bettered that form when close third at Wetherby (3m, soft; cheekpieces refitted) the following month; needs to rebound from last month's duff effort but remains lightly raced and enters calculations.

7/1

Non-runners

Stop Loss

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £18.10
Straight Forecast £23.90
Trifecta £106.40

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Skyjack Hijack

Telegraph:

Clondaw General

WEST COUNTRY:

Western Knight

SPOTLIGHT:

Jet Blue

D Express:

Clondaw General

Daily Record:

Clondaw General

TOPSPEED:

Skyjack Hijack

POSTDATA:

Skyjack Hijack

The Times:

Skyjack Hijack

Daily Mail:

Skyjack Hijack

Daily Mirror:

Skyjack Hijack

The Sun:

Skyjack Hijack

The Star:

Skyjack Hijack