2.40 Cheltenham (Day 4, Race 3)
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Registered As The Spa
Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 1) (Class 1)
(4YO plus)
Winner £68,340
Advice: 1 pt each/way Captain Cutter (10/1 Paddy Power, Bet
Victor, Bet365), 1 pt Captain Cutter to beat Deputy Dan and Urban Hymn (13/8 888Sport)
Apache Jack: Improved from maiden hurdle win to land similar
contest easily next time out and made Briar Hill work hard for his win in the
Slaney Novice at Naas latest but was getting 7lbs from him that day so don’t
see form reversal. 
Blakemount: Has been progressive so far this season, third
to Ballyalton now looking healthier after Wednesday, and first try at this trip
bought about career best when second in Grade 2 at Doncaster latest; Needs more
than that to be involved here but possibly still more to come. 
Briar Hill: Went off 25/1 but belied those odds when romping
home with Champion Bumper last year; Not exactly impressive in last two hurdles
wins (beat nothing on debut) but tiny fields and almost farcical paces on both
occasions won’t have seen him to his best and looks to have masses to give for
step up to three miles, doing his best work at the finish once again when
beating Apache Jack having given him 7lbs at Naas latest; Strong suspicion that
better ground also going to suit him given that best performance been on sound
surface; Can take the beating here. 
Captain Cutter: Pick of bumper wins saw him beat Kings
Palace; Quality hurdler as well, a wide margin winner at Kempton on his debut
(justified long odds on price) and followed up easily enough at Market Rasen
afterwards despite sloppy jumping, and then when upped in class significantly
he was impressive when storming clear of Challow field at Newbury (some
disappointments since but a clear winner over them); Crying out for a step up
in trip and while some might fret over ground, has two wins on good to soft and
step up in distance should help; Can make a bold bid.
Champagne West: Turned a new leaf since December, getting
better of Deputy Dan in tight finish at Warwick that he supplemented in
Wincanton handicap hurdle and then a good winner at Ascot latest when giving
4lbs to runner up; Will enjoy 3m on good ground and not without a chance. 
Cogry: Strode out to be a good winner latest at Warwick
following on from Leicester win but last run on good, albeit a bumper, ended
with him well beaten in midfield and huge amount to find to get competitive 
Deputy Dan: Edged out by Champagne West at Warwick and then
preceded to win next two starts in fine style, destroying maiden hurdle field at
Chepstow and then doing same to Grade 2 opponents at Warwick although most
serious rival fell before race got going seriously; 
King’s Palace: Mishap on hurdling debut and hard fought win
over 2m6f distance memory after destroying opposition twice in C&D
contests, going from front, barely touching a twig both times and winning by 18
and 14 lengths when obliterating opposition in home straight; This trip and
this ground fine, and will take serious amount of catching.
Madness Night: Needs a lot more than he showed when pulled
up in C&D trial for the Neptune latest despite two good wins the time
before. 
Masters Hill: Good dual coder who mixes his chasing and
hurdling but put in place by Kings Palace here two runs back and then put in
place by Deputy Dan as well; Much more needed.
Mosspark: Won all three of his hurdles starts on soft ground
so far, impressive at Huntingdon latest when unfancied having won by 11 lengths
the time before; Likely that more improvement is coming but how he copes with
ground crucial to his chances and large improvement to make anyway; 
Port Melon: Only one run but it marked him down as a useful
prospect to watch for when third to Creepy in Grade 2 over 2m5f here in
November; Likely to come forward for three miles but not seen since and may
find himself far too raw for this today. 
Prince Siegfried: Couldn’t raise a gallop latest in the
Tolworth after falling when in with a chance against Irving but this a huge
step up in trip, not sure he wants this ground, and form doesn’t look exemplary
either; Lot to prove. 
Regal Diamond: Maiden is way out of his depth here. 
Rydon Pynes: Steady improvement since last season and landed
slight upset at Exeter on reappearance before then coming close second at
Newbury; Tall order here however but unlike most others, should handle the
ground fairly well as well.
Saint Roque: Ran up streak of early season successes but
well beaten upped in class at Sandown and when falling (beaten) behind Kings’
Palace in Grade 2 here; Hard to recommend. 
Sausalito Sunrise: Placed on first four starts under rules,
including when third in good handicap here over 2m5f; Two from two at this trip
until upped in class at Doncaster however and no excuses for his poor showing
that day.
The Job Is Right: Trashing at the hands of Faugheen doesn’t
look too bad now but poor showing last time a worry; Progressive the time
before that however and has some decent good ground form; Still has plenty to
find, mind. 
Urban Hymn: Made short work of fixed brush hurdle at Haydock
with Impeccable jumping on that occasion and then showed his grit to tough out
3m Grade 2 at Doncaster latest; Will need much more than that however and not
sure if this ground going to suit for all that there should be still more to
come. 
Very Wood: Looked to have a future when beaten by Minella
Foru although his right handed jumping that day a worry; Didn’t land a blow in
Royal Bond and then beaten behind Briar Hill getting 10lbs; Others make more
appeal.
VERDICT: A very strong renewal with plenty of potential and
top established form at the head of the market. This festival has had some
mightily hyped clashes so far and in the meeting between Briar Hill and Kings
Palace we could have one of the races of the meeting. However, with Briar Hill
an unappealing price after sustained support, and King's Palace not a confident
selection with such an imposing rival, maybe the answer is CAPTAIN CUTTER, who
should improve greatly for the step upto three miles and can threaten the front
two following his impressive win in the Challow Hurdle in December. Kept fresh
for him, he can go close today.
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