Cheltenham Festival (Day 4, Race 3)
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (2.40)
Picks: Bobs Worth (win) & Mossley (each/way)
Ackertac: Had plenty in hand when winning 2 novice hurdles and might have found the extra furlong a bit too far on his first handicap hurdle here; Was going well when coming down 3 out next time and doesn’t look up to the grade here.
Allee Garde: Most impressive when making a facile debut at Down Royal; Form of that race has fallen to pieces, although respected just for fact he’s been sent here speaks volumes.
Bobs Worth: Taken a big step forward with every single run under rules, and bettered form and probably performance of his nine length debut win when coming home with relative ease over course and distance and put in one of most impressive performances of season for novice ranks when a clear cut winner of course and distance trial despite being forced wide two out; That form made to look rock – solid when runner up nearly won Neptune on Wednesday and standout here; Step up in trip not expected to be major problem.
Champion Court: Only had two runs for current yard but has already taken a Grade 2 hurdle here, some achievement considering it was his only his hurdles debut; Form of that race may not have been set alight (although the second ran a cracker behind a classy sort at Kempton); Disappointed last time but had foot injury and stable under cloud; Still rates potentially top class but will need to be so to win this.
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; Ran below best when well beaten second in heavy ground 3m Grade 2 at Haydock but better ground should put him right and seen as one of major contenders here.
Fiulin: Not matched form of his Supreme seventh last year in 4 starts since and very hard to recommend here, although trip may suit.
Fully Funded: Improved massively from hurdling debut when eased down to beat Couleur De La Loi by 5½ lengths in a Wexford maiden hurdle and did the same again when leading all the way for a comfortable win in the Monksfield Hurdle here last time, using easy lead to his advantage and digging deep to beat off what looked like decent field at the time; Has since disappointed when stepped up in class and has a lot to do to be involved here.
Gagewell Flyer: Has been excellent on all starts this season, winning with ease at Navan before coming home clear in the Slaney Novice Hurdle and showing guts and slick jumping to win 2m Grade 2 event; Needs to show he handles better ground but still boasts solid form and has to be given a big chance here.
Jetnova: Has gotten better with experience, landing 2 novice hurdles at Plumpton (second one very good race for the track) and showed he was better than his sixth to Court In Motion when landing decent event last time but passed over in better company.
Join Together: Let down by lack of experience when third to Court In Motion on hurdling bow at Exeter and bettered that form in defeat when second to Mossley in Grade 2 here ;Bolted up in maiden hurdle last time (20 lengths clear of subsequent winner) and likely to be on premises.
Kilcrea Kim: Created deep impression when doubling up in novice hurdles and then winning his first handicap; Ran a great race here on New Year’s day but seemed not to stay extended trip and same worry again despite impressive win inbetween.
Moonlight Drive: Made a very promising hurdling debut when getting better of Trustan Times with lot to spare at Wetherby on only rules starts but that form dubious in this context and passed over.
Mossley: Hasn’t come off bridle to land Worcester bumper and 2m4f novice hurdle at Huntingdon, and it looked set to be the same stroy until he showed impressive attitude when taking 3m Grade 2 novice here from subsequent winners Join Together and Highland Valley; Disappointed behind Court In Motion but ground proved his undoing that day and much better prospects here.
No Secrets: Was deeply impressive on second hurdling start when hacking up from Yabora with ease and although not disgraced when easily beaten by useful Poungnatch last time, has too much to be doing here.
Our Island: Two from two under rules, having ground it out at Ffos Las before making a better fist of things style wise at Newbury; Should go on ground, but better options here.
Radestky March: Showed plenty of guts to edge small race at Warwick; This asks too much of him on the book.
Rif: Looked smart when landing 3m novice hurdle at Towcester in October; Well beaten by both Mossley and Join Together last time and too much to do here.
Start Me Up: Has got course form (was a Bumper winner here on good to firm in 2009); Ran no sort of race last time and hard to recommend strongly.
Sybarite: Made nearly prefect start to hurdling when second in 2m5f Grade 2 at the Open Meeting, coming second behind Champion Court; Only had the one run since but not disgraced when unable to stay with classy sort Chablis at Kempton; Lightly raced so can improve still and more going for him than quite a few.
Teaforthree: Quite impressive when winning at Ffos last and ran game race to finish in the frame when third behind Mossley; Not to be discounted off the back of that but disappoint that he was beaten so far latest and others preferred.
VERDICT: An excellent renewal compared with some previous years. The way BOBS WORTH saw out his race on Trials Day here suggests that he’ll stay three miles and he’s a confident selection. The runner up in his race all but won the Neptune earlier on in the week and that’s easily the best form here. There are many good contenders, and the one that may give the favourite most to think about is MOSSLEY, who boasts the best course and distance form courtesy of his Grade 2 win and is a stupid price because of his run behind fellow contender Court In Motion, when the ground was just too soft. The latter named horse also has a solid chance, and while many like the chances of Join Together, he is going to be 4lbs worse off with Mossley this time round. Champion Court is still a top prospect and while he should beat Sybarite again he has it all to prove now. Kilcrea Kim might not stay this fully based on his January run.
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