Cheltenham Festival 2014 - Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle

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.