Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Registered As The Prestige Novices' Hurdle)

2.10 Haydock
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Registered As The Prestige Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 2) (Class 1) (4YO plus)
Winner £13,226

Court In Motion: Always been highly regarded by his connections and has started building on all that promise and more with win at Exeter and second in Challow Hurdle, but that nowhere near as impressive as his 21 length destruction job in Warwick Grade 2; Will be fine at this trip and should take this.

Carpincho: Was good in bumpers (third, beaten only six lengths behind Al Ferof in Newbury Grade 2) and has won two of three hurdling starts, justifying place in field here; Big question mark over his fifth two starts ago but worth his chance.

Lively Baron: Unbeaten in three starts since his debut, having won a pair of 2 & a half mile Novice Hurdles; Needs to improve on bare form but rates better than that anyway and bred to live the step up in trip.

Rudanphast: Impressed when landing a hat – trick (two of those in bumpers) when winning a novice hurdle by nine lengths; Been well beaten both starts since and has a lot to do on those runs.

Atouchbetweenacara: Ran better than the bare facts suggest in the face of a stiff task latest but Simply hasn’t fulfilled promise he showed when winning Grade 2 limited handicap and not appealing here, especially over hurdles.

Back In Focus: Pitched in at deep end for hurdles debut here but not without good reason, having bolted in on Irish point-to-pointing circuit last month; Connections to be respected so not dismissed although taking leap of faith to do so.

Neptune Equester: Completed hat-trick over fences in 2010 and remains with potential over hurdles after encouraging run at Catterick; Best of the rest behind Court In Motion last time and hard to see him reversing form.

Rose Of The Moon: Made a hugely promising hurdling debut at Cheltenham, staying on past plenty of very useful horses and nearly catching very smart prospect in Bobs Worth; Ran a shocker last time although this easier (long journey after Doncaster abandoned) and worth another chance.

VERDICT: COURT IN MOTION produced one of the most impressive performances by a novice this season when romping home with a Warwick Grade 2 and he should do the same today. Rose Of The Moon makes most appeal of the others if at her best.