Tips For The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 2025 – Trends To Pick A Winner
The Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, a Grade 1 race run over 3 miles, is set to take place on Friday, March 14th, 2025, as part of the prestigious Cheltenham Festival.
This gruelling test for novice hurdlers has become a key fixture in the racing calendar since its inception in 2005.
In the 2024 edition, Stellar Story, trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Sam Ewing, caused a major upset by winning at odds of 33-1.
This victory marked Ewing's first Festival success and Elliott's 39th winner at the meeting.
Runners To Watch
Below are tips for the Albert Bartlett plus a preview of selected runners who hold entries for the race in 2025.
Jet Blue
One of the top prospects is Jet Blue, trained by D Cottin. This six-year-old brings impressive form, having won three of his last five starts, including a victory at Cheltenham in December.
His high official rating of 140 and strong recent performances make him a serious contender.
The Big Westerner
The Big Westerner, trained by Henry De Bromhead, is another horse to watch closely.
This six-year-old mare has won both her starts over hurdles, including a notable Grade 2 victory at Limerick after Christmas.
Her stamina and recent form suggest she could be well-suited to the demands of this race.
Ballybow
Ballybow, from Gordon Elliott's yard, has also thrown his hat into the ring following a hard-fought win at Clonmel.
This six-year-old son of Flemensfirth has shown consistent improvement, winning a maiden hurdle at Naas in January before following up with a Grade 3 victory.
Elliott's success in this race last year with Stellar Story adds weight to Ballybow's chances.
And The Rest
Willie Mullins, who has a strong record in this race with three wins in the past decade, fields several interesting contenders.
Jasmin De Vaux, a Champion Bumper hero, and Fishery Lane are two that warrant attention from his stable.
Wendigo, trained by Jamie Snowden, brings a consistent record of three wins from five starts over hurdles.
The step up in trip could bring about further improvement for this six-year-old.
Intense Approach, trained by John C McConnell, boasts an impressive record of six wins from seven starts over hurdles.
This consistent performer could be well-suited to the demands of the Albert Bartlett1.
It's worth noting that this race often produces surprise results, with 10 of the last 12 winners starting at double-figure odds.
This trend suggests that looking beyond the market leaders could be profitable.
With a strong field of contenders and the race's history of producing unexpected outcomes, the 2025 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle is shaping up to be an exciting and unpredictable affair.
2025 Tips For The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle With Key Trends
Wingmen looks primed for a big run in the 2025 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.
This Gordon Elliott-trained 7-year-old has been steadily improving, with a strong second-place finish in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown over 2m 6f in February.
He's shown he can handle the Cheltenham hill, placing second there in December. With Jack Kennedy likely to be in the saddle, Wingmen ticks all the boxes for this gruelling test.
His stamina and recent form over similar distances make him a solid each-way bet.
Don't be surprised to see this son of Kayf Tara powering up the famous Cheltenham hill to claim victory.
Key Trends
The Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle has shown several consistent trends among its winners over the past decade.
Age has been a significant factor, with the majority of winners being either six or seven years old.
In terms of breeding, Irish-bred horses have had a strong showing, accounting for 9 of the last 12 winners.
The starting price of winners has typically ranged between 5/1 and 33/1, indicating that while favourites can win, there's often value to be found further down the market.
Interestingly, only 2 of the last 12 winners started as the favourite, with 5 being among the top three in the betting.
Most winners (9 out of 12) had their last run between 26 and 60 days before the race, suggesting that a relatively recent outing is beneficial.
Form is crucial, with all winners in the last 12 years finishing in the top four in their previous race, and half of them winning their last outing.
The official rating of winners has also been noteworthy, with 10 out of the last 12 winners rated 136 or higher. In terms of race tactics, winners have typically run over distances between 2m3f and 3m½f in their last race, indicating the importance of proven stamina.
These trends provide valuable insights to identify potential winners in future renewals of the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.
However, it's important to remember that trends can change, and each race should be analysed on its own merits.
Odds & Runners
*odds correct at time of publishing
| Number | Name | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | The Big Westerner | D J O'Keeffe | H De Bromhead | 4/1 |
| 9 | Jasmin De Vaux | P Townend | W P Mullins | 15/2 |
| 11 | Jet Blue | J Reveley | D Cottin | 8/1 |
| 17 | Wendigo | G Sheehan | Jamie Snowden | 8/1 |
| 18 | Wingmen | J W Kennedy | G Elliott | 8/1 |
| 3 | Derryhassen Paddy | D R Fox | Miss Lucinda V Russell | 9/1 |
| 2 | Ballybow | Sam Ewing | G Elliott | 12/1 |
| 6 | Flicker Of Hope | K M Donoghue | M Fahey | 12/1 |
| 1 | Argento Boy | Rachael Blackmore | W P Mullins | 14/1 |
| 8 | Intense Approach | S Bowen | J C McConnell | 14/1 |
| 5 | Fishery Lane | S F O'Keeffe | W P Mullins | 20/1 |
| 16 | Sounds Victorius | Mr P W Mullins | W P Mullins | 20/1 |
| 10 | Jax Junior | Tom Cannon | L Wadham | 25/1 |
| 15 | Port Joulain | B Hayes | W P Mullins | 25/1 |
| 19 | Yellow Car | Nick Slatter | D Killahena & G McPherson | 25/1 |
| 13 | Ma Shantou | H Cobden | Miss E C Lavelle | 33/1 |
| 7 | Inn At The Park | D E Mullins | W P Mullins | 40/1 |
| 12 | Jig's Forge | Ben Jones | B Pauling | 40/1 |
| 14 | Nativehill | N de Boinville | N J Henderson | 40/1 |
| 4 | First Confession | Brendan Powell | J Tizzard | 50/1 |
Conclusion
While it's tight at the top of the betting markets, history suggests looking for value further down the market.
Wingmen, The Big Westerner and Wendigo appear to have the right profiles to run big races, while Intense Approach and Jet Blue could outrun their odds.
As always with the Cheltenham Festival, expect the unexpected in what promises to be a fascinating renewal of the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.
For punters looking to have a bet, considering each horse's stamina, jumping ability, and previous Graded form is crucial.
Keep an eye on the weather forecast leading up to the race, as ground conditions can significantly impact performance over this testing three-mile trip.
Remember, this race has a history of producing surprise results, so don't be afraid to look beyond the obvious contenders when making your selection.
BETFRED
