Is Thedeviluno the Toughest Rival to Doctor Steinberg in the 2026 Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham?
The 2026 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle looks a proper examination of stamina and temperament, with a full field of 22 lining up at 3:20pm on Friday, 13 March at Cheltenham.
Run over 3m on the New Course, it asks unproven staying novices to dig deeper than they have ever gone before.
This year’s renewal is shaping up around a compelling clash between the classy Irish raider Doctor Steinberg and the gritty Thedeviluno, with plenty of depth lurking in behind.
It is the sort of race where plans can unravel from the top of the hill, but that is exactly why it has become a favourite with punters and purists alike.
What Makes The Albert Bartlett Different?
The Albert Bartlett may sit alongside the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Turners Novices’ Hurdle on the Festival programme, but it occupies its own corner of the novice landscape.
The Supreme is all about raw speed and slick jumping over 2m on the Old Course, often suiting sharper types who can travel strongly and quicken off a strong pace.
The Turners, over 2m4f for novice chasers, is a stepping stone for future Grade 1 middle‑distance chasers, testing athletic jumping and tactical pace rather than out‑and‑out stamina.
By contrast, the Albert Bartlett is a staying novice’s rite of passage. The New Course puts the emphasis on rhythm and stamina, and the three‑mile trip exposes any doubts about staying power, mental toughness, or jumping under pressure.
This race is also open to older novices, so you often see more battle‑hardened types than in the Supreme, where many are just starting out on their hurdling careers.
It is not the prettiest contest every year, but it is frequently one of the most revealing when you look back a couple of seasons down the line.
Doctor Steinberg: The Polished Professional
Doctor Steinberg arrives like a horse tailor‑made for a Festival Grade 1: progressive form, a top yard, and a win over a near‑three‑mile trip already on the board.
The six‑year‑old has taken well to hurdling, stringing together a sequence of three victories from three starts, including a Grade 2 over 2½ miles at Navan before Christmas.
He has since backed that up in deeper company, winning a Grade 1 at Leopardstown, and his official mark in the mid‑150s reflects his standing at the head of the market.
Trained by Willie Mullins and ridden here by Paul Townend, he brings the firepower of a yard that knows exactly what is required to win Festival staying prizes.
Thedeviluno: The Main Danger
If Doctor Steinberg is the polished principal, Thedeviluno is the streetwise rival who has done little wrong and keeps edging forward with every start.
Now a seven‑year‑old, he has already proved himself a strong staying novice, with a series of solid runs at around 2m4f–3m and a knack for getting the job done in the latter stages.
Trained by Paul Nolan and partnered again by Sean O’Keeffe, Thedeviluno gives the impression of a horse who will relish the grind of the New Course.
Depth In Behind The Big Two
Backing up the front pair is a deeply interesting supporting cast, many of whom will be much shorter in the market next time you see them over fences.
Mullins fields a squadron headed by course‑arriving Doctor Du Mesnil, Galway and Navan winner Espresso Milan, and the older stayer Hipop De Loire.
Gordon Elliott relies on the likes of Jalon d’Oudairies, Kazansky, and the well‑regarded Spinningayarn.
British hopes are far from thin on the ground either, with Kripticjim, Mondoui’boy, Moneygarrow and some interesting each‑way players like Ubatuba and Park Princess giving the home team a bit of depth.
A large field also brings plenty of tactical questions. Will something roll forward and turn it into a brutal test, or will everyone be waiting for someone else to blink first?
Horses such as The Passing Wife and Road Exile have enough pace to get involved earlier, while stout stayers like Swindon Village and Tackletommywoowoo may be ridden to pick up pieces late.
It would be no surprise if one of the lesser‑talked‑about runners pops up in the frame at a big price – a recurring theme in this race’s history.
Who Wins The 2026 Albert Bartlett?
The Albert Bartlett rarely delivers the champagne‑spray finish of the Supreme or the slick finesse of the Turners, but it does offer something just as satisfying: the sight of future staying chasers being asked a proper question, all at once, in front of the biggest crowd they have ever seen.
With Doctor Steinberg bringing Grade 1‑ready credentials and Thedeviluno offering a tough, likeable alternative, the 2026 renewal has a neat shape that should appeal to punters studying your odds table and to casual viewers dipping into the Festival on a Friday afternoon.
Whatever happens, a few of these will be lining up in top staying chases in years to come – and when they do, this three‑mile slog on the New Course will be the day that told you what they were really made of.
BETFRED
