Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle 2023 Tips, Runners & Prediction

Albert Barlett Novices' Hurdle 2023 Runners

Stu Williams previews the leading contenders for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

Corbetts Cross

Corbetts Cross is 3-4 over hurdles having won races over two miles, two-and-a-half-miles and three miles this winter.

That alone suggests that Corbetts Cross is out of the ordinary and there was plenty to like about the way in which he battled to land the Grade 2 Johnstown Novice Hurdle at Naas last month.

Emmet Mullins charge will only have had 19 days to recover if taking up this engagement and that would normally be asking a lot of a young horse. 

However, there was only 17 days between his victories at Limerick and Fairyhouse earlier this season and, as alluded to above, he isn’t your ordinary horse.

Embassy Gardens

Embassy Gardens got off the mark at third time of asking courtesy a facile 35 lengths success at Thurles in January.

Willie Mullins gelding found one too good on his hurdling debut at Cork in November and could only place fourth in a warm maiden hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Stepping up to 3 miles proved just the tonic at Thurles and he naturally remains open to further improvement over this trip.

The form of that victory doesn’t amount to much. However, he travelled powerfully under Paul Townend and created the impression that he could be a talented stayer going forwards. 

Three Card Brag

Three Card Brag defeated Sandor Clegane on his hurdling debut at Galway in October and he wasn’t disgraced in graded company thereafter, placing third in the Grade 3 Gibney’s For Auction Novice Hurdle at Navan and second behind Henry de Bromhead’s smart prospect Inthepocket in the Grade 2 Tote Navan Novice Hurdle, where he was only beaten a head.

Three Card Brag was back in the winners enclosure at Fairyhouse in January when making light work of Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle fancy Spanish Harlem, and he could take another step forwards on his first outing over 3 miles.

He arguably boasts some of the best form on offer in this contest and he will appreciate every drop of rain that has fallen in recent days.

Hiddenvalley Lake

Hiddenvalley Lake won his first two starts over hurdles with relative ease before narrowly being denied a Grade 3 double by stablemate Monty’s Star, who was in receipt of 6lbs.

That was Hiddenvalley Lake’s first attempt over 3 miles and it’s fair to say that he wasn’t foot perfect at all of his hurdles.

However, he should have learned plenty from that outing and he remains a stayer of great potential.

 

Monty’s Star

Monty’s Star will look to uphold Clonmel form with his aforementioned stablemate Hiddenvalley Lake.

Henry de Bromhead’s charge showed a marked improvement from his hurdling debut when landing that race and he could easily take another giant step forwards with that experience under his belt.

He will meet his stablemate on 6lbs worse on this occasion. However, that may not be enough for Hiddenvalley Lake to turn the tables.

Favori De Champdou

Favori De Champdou has won his last three starts and has shaped as though he will enjoy a true stamina test.

All three of those victories were achieved over trips just shy of 3 miles and the latter came in Grade 2 company, where he beat subsequent scorer Letsbeclearaboutit by four-and-a-quarter-lengths.

The Gigginstown runner hasn’t been seen since that success and he will arrive at Cheltenham fit and fresh as a result. 

Favori De Champdou’s profile fits well with this race.

Sandor Clegane

Sandor Clegane chased home Three Card Brag at Galway in October before shedding his maiden tag at the second time of asking. 

Paul Nolan’s charge wasn’t seen again until the Dublin Racing Festival when placing third behind Good Land and Absolute Notions in the Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle.

Sandor Clegane should have learnt plenty from that race and it’s worth remembering that he had enough class to finish second behind Supreme Novices’ Hurdler runner-up Facile Vega in a Grade 2 Bumper at Leopardstown.

He looks sure to be suited by stepping up in trip and he could easily make his presence felt in this contest.

Shanbally Kid

Shanbally Kid could only place fourth on his hurdling debut at Limerick when shaping as though he needed further. And he duly obliged on his second start over hurdles when stepping up to two-and-a-half-miles. 

The Gigginstown runner comfortably defeated subsequent Grade 3 winner Monty’s Star on that occasion and he is clearly open to further improvement after just two starts in this sphere.

Shanbally Kid responded well when asked for his effort on that occasion and he really hit the line well, suggesting that he could find even more improvement when stepping up to 3 miles.

Dawn Rising

Dawn Rising brings some smart two-and-a-half-mile form to the table having placed third behind Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle third Champ Kiely on two separate occasions this year, latterly in the Grade 1 Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle.

The JP McManus owned six-year-old slotted in two victories in between those defeats including an eight lengths success over past years Champion Bumper runner-up American Mike in Grade 3 company at Navan.

That success was slightly fortuitous as the horse with whom he was battling crashed out at the final flight of hurdles. However, he clearly possesses a good level of ability and he could easily improve for this trip.

Rock My Way

Rock My Way ran out a cosy winner of the Grade 2 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle on Cheltenham’s Trials Day card in January and he could easily take a big step forwards on just his third career start.

Rock My Word nearly defied odds of 66/1 when placing second on his rules debut at Cheltenham on New Years Day and not many horses can step into Grade 2 company and return victorious just 27 days later.

The Getaway gelding clearly possesses a good deal of ability and really could be anything at this stage. He therefore rates an intriguing contender.

Letsbeclearabouti

Letsbeclearaboutit placed fourth behind Hiddenvalley Lake and Cool Survivor at Cork in December before chasing home Favori De Champdou in Grade 2 company at Limerick.

Gavin Cromwell’s eight-year-old got off the market at Punchestown in January when cantering to a 22 lengths victory, which should have done his confidence the world of good.

Connections will be encouraged by the recent rainfall and his maturity is no bad thing in a race of this nature.

Seabank Bistro

Seabank Bistro placed fourth in the Champion Bumper 12 months ago and he finally got off the mark over hurdles at the third time of asking, when comfortably landing an 18 runner maiden at Naas.

However, he was unfortunate to bump into Corbetts Cross when sent off an odds-on favourite at Limerick in December and that run is even more creditable when you factor in that Emmet Mullins’ charge was carrying 5lbs less.

Seabank Bistro looks sure to be suited by stepping up in trip and it’s always advantageous to have Cheltenham Festival form. 

He could easily outperform market expectations.

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle 2023 Tips & Prediction

Three Card Brag boasts some solid novice form and should be suited by stepping up in trip.

Hiddenvalley Lake was arguably unlucky last time out and could easily be a factor if the ground is decent.

While Grade 2 winner Favori De Champdou is also of interest if connections choose to go down this route.

However, not many horses possess the ability to win races over two miles, two-and-a-half-miles and three miles as a novice and that marks CORBETTS CROSS out as being something special. 

Emmet Mullins charge has passed every test with flying colours and he displayed the determined attitude that is required in this contest when scoring in Grade 2 company at Naas. 

Seabank Bistro placed fourth in the Champion Bumper last year and boasts form that ties in well with Corbetts Cross. 

He could easily run well at a price.