Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle Tips 2022
The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle tips are from one of the Grade 1 contests on the list for Cheltenham Festival Day 4. This is a 3m run for novice hurdlers and it is a gruelling examination of stamina and ability. Our betting experts look at the contenders to make the shortlist in our Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle tips.
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Potential Runners & Favourites
There could be a stack of form-horses that will line up at the start of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, potentially making it a superb contest. The field could be deep and there are many options to look through. Our horse racing experts guide you through it all.
MINELLA COCOONER looks like a big contender in this year’s Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle betting. Gordon Elliott’s 6-year-old has won two of three trips over the hurdles and was runner-up in the other.
He remained in fine form winning the Grade 1 Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown at the start of February. So it could be an intriguing Cheltenham debut for him.
GINTO has won all three hurdles efforts since making the move to trainer Gordon Elliott. Those were at Navan and Naas in pattern company and Ginto has rapidly improved with each run. The latest of those victories from him was a Grade 2 success by more than four lengths.
HILLCREST is another to consider, having won all four of his completed hurdles races in his career. His only hiccup was when unseating the rider in the Grade 2 Classic Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in January. He has since come out and won the Prestige Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) so has to be taken seriously here.
Another to consider for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle tips is THE NICE GUY from Willie Mullins. He opened his hurdles account at the first time of asking at Naas at the end of January. That was by a wide margin to deliver the odds and he could be a big player.
SHANTREUSSE has won both trips over the hurdles. More will be needed for this Cheltenham Festival effort, but he has been heading in the right direction.
So too the undefeated STAG HORN, who scored an eye-catching Grade 2 in mid-January. GOOD TIME JONNY won in fine style at Leopardstown last time out, and with an excellent recent strike rate over the timbers, he could get in it.
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Confirmed Runners
| Horse | Silks | Trainer/Jockey | Odds |
| Ginto |  | J: Jack Kennedy T: Gordon Elliott | 5/2 |
| Hillcrest |  | J: Richard Patrick T: Henry Dale | 7/2 |
| Minella Cocooner |  | J: Paul Townend T: Willie Mullins | 17/2 |
| Shantreusse |  | J: Rachael Blackmore T: Henry De Bromhead | 8/1 |
| Bardenstown Lad |  | J: Sean Bowen T: John C McConnell | 8/1 |
| The Nice Guy |  | J: Sean O’Keeffe T: Willie Mullins | 8/1 |
| Stag Horn |  | J: Nick Scholfield T: Archie Watson | 12/1 |
| Classic Getaway |  | J: Patrick Mullins T: Willie Mullins | 16/1 |
| Falcon Eight |  | J: Mark Walsh T: Dermot Weld | 16/1 |
| Good Time Jonny |  | J: Kevin Sexton T: Anthony Martin | 16/1 |
| Ramillies |  | J: B J Cooper T: Willie Mullins | 16/1 |
| Ballygrifincottage |  | J: Harry Skelton T: Dan Skelton | 20/1 |
| Eric Bloodaxe |  | J: J J Slevin T: Joseph O’Brien | 25/1 |
| Mahler Mission |  | J: James Bowen T: John C McConnell | 25/1 |
| Green Book |  | J: Charlie Deutsch T: Venetia Williams | 33/1 |
| Idas Boy | | J: Sean Flanagan T: Noel Meade | 33/1 |
| Where It All Began |  | J: Adrian Heskin T: Gordon Elliott | 33/1 |
| Brorson |  | J: Jamie Moore T: Martin Keighley | 40/1 |
| The Real Whacker |  | J: Sam Twiston-Davies T: Ann Duffield | 40/1 |
*Odds Correct as of 11am 16/03/22*
How Often Does a Favourite Horse Win The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Race
There has been only the one winning favourite to crop up in the last ten editions of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. That was back in 2013, when At Fishers Cross got to the line first as the 11/8 FAV.
Since then, seven of the last eight winners have done so from at least an 11/1 SP. The biggest winner in the previous decade was Minella Indo, who got the job done from a quote of 50/1 in 2019. Two of the last four winners have been at least 33/1.
So, for Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle tips, along with sizing up those at the head of the market, it is worth digging down the field a bit for some each-way considerations for horse racing betting.
Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle Favourites vs Winners in The Past 10 Years
| Year | Favourite Horse* | Winning Horse |
| 2021 | Stattler (4th) | Vanillier (14/1) |
| 2020 | Thyme Hill (4th) | Monkfish (5/1) |
| 2019 | Commander Of Fleet (2nd) | Minella Indo (50/1) |
| 2018 | Santini (3rd) | Kilbricken Storm (33/1) |
| 2017 | Death Duty (F) | Penhill (16/1) |
| 2016 | Shantou Village (PU) | Unowhatimeanharry (11/1) |
| 2015 | Black Hercules (7th) | Martello Tower (14/1) |
| 2014 | Briar Hill (F) | Very Wood (33/1) |
| 2013 | At Fishers Cross | At Fishers Cross (11/8) |
| 2012 | Boston Bob (2nd) | Brindisi Breeze (7/1) |
*(-) = Finishing Position, UR = Unseated Rider, F = Faller, RO = Ran Out, PU = Pulled Up
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle History & Present Time
The registered name of this particular race is the Spa Novices’ Hurdle. Because of sponsorship, punters are more commonly known as the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and it is a Grade 1 contest. The race is a 3m fixture for novice hurdlers of at least four years of age.
Fillies and mares claim a 7lb allowance for the fixture with twelve hurdles. The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle was added to the Cheltenham Festival in 2015 and after its first three renewals, was bumped up to Grade 1 status.
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Jockey & Trainer Records
After winning on At Fishers Cross in 2013, jockey Tony McCoy notched up his third success in this fixture. That record has not been beaten yet. But two of the last five renewals of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle were won by Paul Townend, making him the most successful active jockey in the race. On the flip side, Tom Scudamore has failed at 11 previous attempts to win this.
Willie Mullins and Jonjo O’Neill have trained two winners of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. However, there is a considerable difference between them as Mullins got his two wins from 40 entries, while O’Neill scored with the only two entries that he has had in the fixture.