2.30 2m. 7f. 213yds. 16 Declared. Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1 ) of £97,969.00 4-y-o plus
1st - €55,127.00 2nd - €20,769.00 3rd - €10,395.00 4th - €5,192.00 5th - €2,605.00 6th - €1,302.00 7th - €646.00 8th - €333.00
FormscanBy Tom Weekes - Following two small-field Supreme and Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdles, a reassuring 17 are declared for this with FAKIERA a somewhat speculative pick. FAKIERA initially showed just useful form over two-miles last year but has shown improvement stepping up in trip recently and comes here having seen out the 2m6f trip quite well at Leopardstown latest, with the extra distance and drying ground also to suit. Stattler beat FAKIERA 2L at Leopardstown and while Stattler has strong claims as a proven stayer, drying weather isn't ideal given all his form is on testing ground. Barbados Buck's, from the family of Big Buck's, has improved since being sent over staying distances and comes here as a ground-versatile type who is open to more progression and should play a big part. Torygraph is a dour staying type but might also prefer an easier surface and faces a stiffer task than at Thurles latest. Alaphilippe was a wide margin winner of a Haydock Grade 2 latest and while previously beaten at Taunton, is now very much proven at today's trip albeit he would prefer easy ground. Adrimel, 16th in last season's Cheltenham Bumper, benefitted from the step up in trip at Warwick latest and while progressing well, takes a rise in class. N'golo appears to have been crying out for this distance but is a quirky type who is tried in a tongue-tie today.