Cheltenham Festival 2013 - Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle

2.40 Cheltenham

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Registered As The Spa Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 1) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner £68,340

Advice: 1 pt win At Fishers Cross (6/4 general), 1pt win Our Vinnie (8/1 general)

Aaim To Prosper: Strong stayer and extremely classy on the flat (Dual winner of the Cesarewitch, ran well in group races) who has made slow but steady progressive over hurdles, wining Doncaster handicap in good style; Will enjoy this test even more, but entitled to win that and this much tougher.

African Gold: One of the most progressive horses in field, producing easily his most impressive performance of four timer when trashing EBF final winner Close Touch at Doncaster latest, that coming after back to back wins in 2m5f handicap at Newbury (heavy); Won on good to soft, but further they go the better form him and will take the beating.

At Fishers Cross: Took hurdles record to 3 wins from 5 starts when completing hat trick in good style over 3m here (pulled well clear of runner up), supplementing easy wins at Ffos Las and Newbury; Defied speed of impressive Neptune winner The New One here in January (classy types well behind) in Grade 2 over 2m4f; Worry of how he’d do on quicker ground but back at this distance stamina will be forte and rain forecast to fall; One to beat.

Ballycasey: Won both hurdles starts in tidy fashion since beating Our Conor in bumper, although he beat nothing of note on either start; Long been the plan for him and yard can’t have been any better this week, but lots to prove here even if 3m improves him.

Bucking The Trend: Only seventh on handicap debut upped to this trip for the first time at Doncaster.

Inish Island: Form of strong heavy ground handicap over C&D in December (second to At Fishers Cross who was giving 3lbs, Coral Cup winner Medinas in fourth) underlined improvement since moving to Willie Mullins yard , but hard to think that At Fishers Cross not improved just as much since despite Grade 3 win; Still likely to go well though.

I Shot The Sheriff: Won first time out over hurdles at Wetherby but always struggling behind Coneygree here in November and not shown that much since.

Le Bec: Kempton success (2m5f, good ground) not ben backed up since and outstayed by Taquin Du Seuil who was disappointing on Wednesday; More needed.

Ofaloains Boy: Impressive Irish point win in April saw him bought for £100,000 and building nicely to today with hat trick on heavy ground (2m4f and 3m); Priomising but good deal of these have much better form credentials and stablemate At Fishers Cross looks to have a much better chance.

Our Vinnie: Tough, consistent novice hurdles who has shown tremendous attitude in winning Grade 2’s the last twice, at Cork and Limerick; Form of those races looks very solid in this context (Rule The World clear Neptune second) and easy to forgive his remote second to Pont Alexandre in what became a speed test at a trip to short for him and today sure to suit him more than any other test he’s faced, although good chance on form would be strong one if the rain came for him; Will go well.

Return Spring: Easy winner over 2m5f on soft ground at Ludlow in November but this is far removed.

Superior Quality: Looked as if stiff track was going to be the making of him at Chepstow last time but lacks class based on all other results and far below this level.

Utopie Des Bordes: Best known as top class French chaser, winning, winning Grade 1 over 2m6f (heavy) at Auteuil in November (form boosted and then let down through Fago); UK form nothing to shout about but stayed in fashion of a horse who will enjoy 3m and can’t be underestimated.

VERDICT: A strong renewal with plenty of strong formlines and progressive types. If the forecast rain falls, it’ll take a very good one to beat AT FISHERS CROSS, who outstayed impressive Neptune Novice Hurdle winner The New One on Trials Day in January, and even on ground less testing he may well cope back up in trip; His prospects are clear for all to see and nothing else has form that strong. Ballycasey is next best but has a lot to prove on hurdles form and African Gold (a deeply impressive handicapper for an in form yard who should love this trip) and OUR VINNIE  (arguably the toughest horse in this race with form in the book to boot) have stronger claims, with the recent rainfall making the latter well worth adding to the portfolio.