When is the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle 2020?

Cheltenham Friday 13th March 2.50pm

Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+)

Distance: 3 miles

Weights:  10st 9lbs (4yo), 11st 5lb (5yo+), 7lb allowance for fillies and mares

Moving on to the third race of Cheltenham Gold Cup Day, we have the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle over three miles of the new course. With twelve hurdles to be jumped it a true test of stamina for these young horses.

Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle Trends and Statistics

Here are the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle 12 year trends and statistics:

• Age – Ten of the last twelve winners were aged six or seven.
• Starting Price – Only two of the last twelve winners returned at less than 7/1 and six were 16/1 or higher.
• Last Run – Five of the last twelve winners won on their previous run before Cheltenham. All of the last twelve winners had their last run between 27 and 78 days ago.
• Course Form – Six of the last twelve winners had a previous run at Cheltenham, five of them had a previous win at Cheltenham.
• Distance Form – Eleven of the last twelve winners had at least one run over 2m 7f and 3m 1f, ten of them had won at least once over that distance.
• Hurdle Form – Eleven of the last twelve winners had at least 3 runs over hurdles and at least one previous win over hurdles.
• Official Rating – Ten of the last twelve winners were rated 137 or higher.
• Graded Wins – Nine of the last twelve winners had at least one win in at least a Grade 3 race.
• Season Form – Eleven of the last twelve winners had at least three runs that season, ten of them had at least one win that season.
  

Who are the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle Leading Contenders?

Here are the leading contenders for the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle 2020:

• THYME HILL – Won the trial for the Ballymore Novices Hurdle over 2m 4f here and followed up at Newbury in a Grade 1.
  
• LATEST EXHIBITION -Three from four over hurdles including a Leopardstown Grade 1 over 2m 6f last time, should have no problem with this trip.
  
• MONKFISH – Runner up on his first start over hurdles then followed up with two easy wins, further progression is highly likely.
  
• HARRY SENIOR -Never raced beyond 2m 4f but won a Cheltenham Trial over that distance in January. Should stay this trip.
  

What’s Keith’s Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle Tips for 2020?

Here is Keith’s tip for the 2020 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle:

As with all of these festival novices’ hurdles, this race is a bit of an enigma.

The trainers are reluctant to show their hands until the last possible minute, as going conditions can have a big effect on what will stay the distance in the various races.

Here is my assessment of how it could pan out. First of all I can’t fathom why THYME HILL is ante-post favourite as I am not convinced he will make it up the hill.

LATEST EXHIBITION and HARRY SENIOR are progressive types and both have place claims.

For me the standout in the betting market is the Willie Mullins trained MONKFISH who is proven over the trip and expected to improve again for this stamina sapping test.

 

My selection for the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle 2020 is: MONKFISH 8/1 each way (NRNB)

As this article is written in advance of the 2020 Cheltenham Festival, the likely contenders are expected to change as we get closer to Cheltenham Gold Cup Day. The picture also starts to get much clearer as we approach the festival, with trainers starting to show their cards in the weeks leading up to Day 4. 

To get Keith’s very latest, up-to-date thoughts on the Day 4 card, and his final Day 4 tips, simply register as a FREE FRT member here, and Keith will email you the full Day 4 tips (including for this race) on the morning of Cheltenham Gold Cup Day.

What was Keith’s Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle Tip for 2019?

For the 2019 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle, Free Racing Tips Tipster Keith advised:

A tight ante post market has COMMANDER OF FLEET, BATTLEOVERDOYEN, BIRCHDALE AND RELEGATE all vying for favouritism and I can see a case for all of them.

My selection is Willie Mullins RELEGATE 12/1 each way, bred to stay this trip, stayed on well to take the Champion Bumper at last year’s festival.

Result: Sadly, RELEGATE, was a Non Runner.

On the day of the race Keith’s replacement tip was the Gordon Elliott trained COMMANDER OF FLEET (15/2 each way) this was backed in to favouritism at 4/1 but could only finish second behind the unexposed 50/1 rag MINELLA INDO.

Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle Previous Winners

• 2008 Nenuphar Collonges 7 Robert Thornton Alan King
  
• 2009 Weapon’s Amnesty 6 Davy Russell Charles Byrnes
  
• 2010 Berties Dream 7 Andrew Lynch Paul John Gilligan
  
• 2011 Bobs Worth 6 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
  
• 2012 Brindisi Breeze 6 Campbell Gillies Lucinda Russell
  
• 2013 At Fishers Cross 6 Tony McCoy Rebecca Curtis
  
• 2014 Very Wood 5 Paul Carberry Noel Meade
  
• 2015 Martello Tower 7 Adrian Heskin Margaret Mullins
  
• 2016 Unowhatimeanharry 8 Noel Fehily Harry Fry
  
• 2017 Penhill 6 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
  
• 2018 Kilbricken Storm 7 Harry Cobden Colin Tizzard
  
• 2019 Minella Indo 6 Rachael Blackmore Henry de Bromhead

As these articles are written in advance of the 2020 Cheltenham Festival, the likely contenders are expected to change as we get closer to Cheltenham Gold Cup Day. The picture also starts to get much clearer as we approach the festival, with trainers starting to show their cards in the weeks leading up to Day 4. 

To get Keith’s very latest, up-to-date thoughts on the Day 4 card, and his final Day 4 tips, simply register as a FREE FRT member here, and Keith will email you the full Day 4 tips on the morning of Cheltenham Gold Cup Day.

Who is FRT’s Cheltenham Day 4 Tipster?

Keith Bond is our resident pro tipster here at FRT Towers. Keith lives and breathes horse racing, having begun his love of horse racing over 40 years ago with a part time job at Catterick Racecourse, as one of three fourteen year-olds looking after two jumps and a hurdle.

Over the years, Keith has been a regular at the northern tracks attending countless race meetings and building up a network of contacts, and a portfolio of systems and strategies. 

He was one of the co-founders of Free Racing Tips all the way back in 2008, and his free tips are now backed by more than seventy thousand FRT members every single day.

“Thanks Keith – It’s great to be part of an amazing group of people all after the same thing, passing on tips to beat the bookies” 

Colin Parkinson, Harrow.

The FRT community love Keith’s attention to detail, knowledge of past races, and ability to pick horses…

“You offer some great tips, some fantastic outsiders tipped up as well. Most tipsters just put up favourites. Well done and keep up the good work”

John Woolley, Stockport