Albert Bartlett Spa Novices’ Hurdle Race Card

The Spa Novices’ Hurdle, which is known as the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle for sponsorship reasons, is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race that is run on the New Course at Cheltenham, on the Friday of the Cheltenham Festival.

On this race card page, you can discover everything you need to know about the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, including our tips for the race and a list of past winners.

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Runners And Entries 2024

The runners and entries for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle for this year's Cheltenham Festival can all be found below.

This is a full list of entries, but there will be declarations 5 days before the race, and final declarations 48 hours before.

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Spa Novices' Hurdle) (GBB Race)

1st
Sam Ewing

Stellar Story

Age: 7
Weight: 11.5
OR: 141
J:
 
Sam Ewing
T:
 
Gordon Elliott
raced in second, challenging 2 out, ridden and outpaced approaching last, 4 lengths down when overjumped last, kept on well and led final strides
2nd
Kielan Woods

The Jukebox Man

Age: 6
Weight: 11.5
OR: 136
J:
 
Kielan Woods
T:
 
Ben Pauling
led, faced challenge when not fluent 2 out, shaken up and went clear approaching last, 4 lengths ahead when not fluent last, soon edged left and ridden, edged right and reduced lead inside final 110yds, no extra and headed final strides
3rd
Danny Mullins

Dancing City

Age: 7
Weight: 11.5
OR: 151
J:
 
Danny Mullins
T:
 
W P Mullins
prominent, ridden and went third approaching last, hit last, soon no extra
4th
Sean O'Keeffe

Spread Boss Ted

Age: 7
Weight: 11.5
OR: N/A
J:
 
Sean O'Keeffe
T:
 
W P Mullins
in rear, good headway on inner after 2 out, went fourth and edged right approaching last, no impression

Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle Tips

This is where you’ll find all of our Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle tips. Looking for tips for other races as well? Head over to our daily tips page.

Exeter - March 19 2024
Exeter 15:00
3
James Bowen

Numitor

J: James Bowen
T: Heather Main
James Bowen

Numitor

bet365
£10.00 Returns £110.00
10/1
midnite
£10.00 Returns £100.00
9/1
betfair
£10.00 Returns £95.00
17/2
betfred
£10.00 Returns £95.00
17/2
betMGM
£10.00 Returns £95.00
17/2
betuk
£10.00 Returns £95.00
17/2
betvictor
£10.00 Returns £95.00
17/2
betway
£10.00 Returns £95.00
17/2
coral
£10.00 Returns £95.00
17/2
grosvenor
£10.00 Returns £95.00
17/2
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £95.00
17/2
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £95.00
17/2
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £95.00
17/2
skybet
£10.00 Returns £90.00
8/1
10/1
Age: 10
Weight: 11-9
OR: 132
Days: 340
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
14/04/23AIN21Sft10-6PU
25/03/23NBY20Sft11-92
24/02/23WAR20Gd11-113
27/12/22CHP19.5Sft11-0PU
25/11/22NBY20Gd11-23
Exeter 16:00
3
Ned Fox

Desert Fortune

J: Ned Fox
T: Venetia Williams
Ned Fox

Desert Fortune

bet365
£10.00 Returns £30.00
2/1
betMGM
£10.00 Returns £30.00
2/1
betuk
£10.00 Returns £30.00
2/1
betvictor
£10.00 Returns £30.00
2/1
grosvenor
£10.00 Returns £30.00
2/1
skybet
£10.00 Returns £30.00
2/1
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £30.00
2/1
betfred
£10.00 Returns £28.75
15/8
betway
£10.00 Returns £28.75
15/8
coral
£10.00 Returns £28.75
15/8
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £28.75
15/8
midnite
£10.00 Returns £28.75
15/8
betfair
£10.00 Returns £27.50
7/4
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £27.50
7/4
2/1
Age: 7
Weight: 11-4
OR: 90
Days: 21
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
27/02/24LEI20Hy11-72
28/03/23HUN25Sft12-0PU
02/02/23FAK23.5Gd11-75
22/12/22FFO20Sft10-79
17/11/22WCN15Gd11-27
Wetherby - March 19 2024
Wetherby 16:15
3
Jordan Nailor

Mister Barclay

J: Jordan Nailor
T: Tom Symonds
Jordan Nailor

Mister Barclay

bet365
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
betfair
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
betfred
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
betMGM
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
betuk
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
betvictor
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
betway
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
coral
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
grosvenor
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
midnite
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
skybet
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
9/2
Age: 6
Weight: 11-6
OR: 91
Days: 23
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
25/02/24HER21.5Sft11-27
25/01/24WET19.5Sft11-53
26/12/23WET19.5Sft10-82
17/11/23DON21Gd11-17
06/04/23HER16GS10-133
Wetherby 14:45
3
Aaron Anderson

Raffles Wonder

J: Aaron Anderson
T: Rebecca Menzies
Aaron Anderson

Raffles Wonder

bet365
£10.00 Returns £19.09
10/11
betfred
£10.00 Returns £18.33
5/6
betMGM
£10.00 Returns £18.33
5/6
betuk
£10.00 Returns £18.33
5/6
betvictor
£10.00 Returns £18.33
5/6
betway
£10.00 Returns £18.33
5/6
coral
£10.00 Returns £18.33
5/6
grosvenor
£10.00 Returns £18.33
5/6
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £18.33
5/6
midnite
£10.00 Returns £18.33
5/6
skybet
£10.00 Returns £18.33
5/6
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £18.33
5/6
betfair
£10.00 Returns £18.00
4/5
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £18.00
4/5
10/11
Age: 7
Weight: 11-10
OR: 86
Days: 5
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
14/03/24HEX16Hy11-01
24/02/24NCS17Hy11-43
07/02/24SED17Sft11-76
06/01/24NCS20.5Sft11-010
23/12/23NCS17Gd11-211
Wolverhampton (AW) - March 19 2024
Wolverhampton (AW) 20:00
2(2)
Archie Young

Prince Ali

J: Archie Young
T: Deborah Faulkner
Archie Young

Prince Ali

betfair
£10.00 Returns £37.50
11/4
betvictor
£10.00 Returns £37.50
11/4
midnite
£10.00 Returns £37.50
11/4
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £37.50
11/4
skybet
£10.00 Returns £37.50
11/4
bet365
£10.00 Returns £35.00
5/2
betfred
£10.00 Returns £35.00
5/2
betMGM
£10.00 Returns £35.00
5/2
betuk
£10.00 Returns £35.00
5/2
coral
£10.00 Returns £35.00
5/2
grosvenor
£10.00 Returns £35.00
5/2
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £35.00
5/2
betway
£10.00 Returns £34.00
12/5
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £30.00
2/1
11/4
Age: 6
Weight: 9-9
OR: 62
Days: 4
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
15/03/24WOL9.5St9-62
26/02/24WOL9.5St10-33
07/01/24WOL9.5St9-610
10/12/23WOL8.5St9-06
04/12/23WOL9.5St8-132
Wolverhampton (AW) 19:30
3(7)
Ben Coen

Bernie The Bear

J: Ben Coen
T: Linda Perratt
Ben Coen

Bernie The Bear

betfair
£10.00 Returns £40.00
3/1
betfred
£10.00 Returns £40.00
3/1
betvictor
£10.00 Returns £40.00
3/1
betway
£10.00 Returns £40.00
3/1
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £40.00
3/1
bet365
£10.00 Returns £37.50
11/4
betMGM
£10.00 Returns £37.50
11/4
betuk
£10.00 Returns £37.50
11/4
coral
£10.00 Returns £37.50
11/4
grosvenor
£10.00 Returns £37.50
11/4
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £37.50
11/4
midnite
£10.00 Returns £37.50
11/4
skybet
£10.00 Returns £37.50
11/4
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £37.50
11/4
3/1
Age: 4
Weight: 9-6
OR: 52
Days: 12
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
07/03/24NCS6St9-92
23/02/24LIN7St8-75
13/02/24NCS7St9-54
02/02/24NCS6St8-123
25/01/24NCS6St8-132
Wolverhampton (AW) 18:00
8(6)
Joey Haynes

Munificent

J: Joey Haynes
T: Chelsea Banham
Joey Haynes

Munificent

betfred
£10.00 Returns £50.00
4/1
betvictor
£10.00 Returns £50.00
4/1
coral
£10.00 Returns £50.00
4/1
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £50.00
4/1
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £50.00
4/1
skybet
£10.00 Returns £50.00
4/1
betfair
£10.00 Returns £47.50
15/4
midnite
£10.00 Returns £47.50
15/4
betway
£10.00 Returns £45.00
7/2
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £45.00
7/2
bet365
£10.00 Returns £43.33
10/3
betMGM
£10.00 Returns £43.33
10/3
betuk
£10.00 Returns £43.33
10/3
grosvenor
£10.00 Returns £43.33
10/3
4/1
Age: 6
Weight: 9-3
OR: 52
Days: 19
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
29/02/24CFD5St9-17
12/02/24WOL5St9-24
10/01/24KEM6St/Slw8-74
30/12/23WOL7St9-211
03/11/23NMK5Hy8-86

Third race of Gold Cup Day

The Spa Novices’ Hurdle, known affectionately as the Albert Bartlett, is the third race on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival.

The race is run over three miles (2 miles 7 furlongs and 213 yards, or 4,822 metres) over the New Course at Cheltenham and it features 12 hurdles that must be jumped.
The Albert Bartlett is widely regarded as the most difficult novice hurdle of the National Hunt season. It’s open to horses aged five and over who are novice hurdlers and the value of the purse is £135,000.

The race is often seen as a starting point for future staying hurdlers. Penhill won the 2017 race before going on to win the 2018 Stayers’ Hurdle, and Unowhatimeanharry won the Albert Bartlett in 2016 before placing in the 2017 Stayers’ Hurdle.

History of the Spa Novices’ Hurdle

The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle officially became part of the Cheltenham Festival in 2005, when it expanded to become a four-day event.

Initially, the race was entered into the Festival as a Grade 2 contest and was titled the Brit Insurance Hurdle. This changed in 2008, when it was promoted to Grade 1 status and the sponsorship was taken over by Albert Bartlett, a vegetable growing company.

Initially, the race was open to horses aged four and over. However, this changed in 2023 and now four-year-olds are excluded.

Recent years

Since its addition to the Festival in 2005, Willie Mullins is the only trainer who’s had three winners in the race: Penhill (2017), Monkfish (2020) and The Nice Guy (2022).
On top of this, only one other trainer has trained multiple winners of the Albert Bartlett. This is Jonjo O’Neill, who trained Black Jack Ketchum (2006) and Wichita Lineman (2007).

For O’Neill’s two victories, both horses were ridden by AP McCoy, who has won the race three times, more than any other jockey (he also won the race in 2013 aboard At Fishers Cross).

The 2019 renewal of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle was particularly memorable. At massive odds of 50/1, Rachael Blackmore became the second woman to ride a Grade 1 winner at the Festival when she steered Minella Indo to success for Henry De Bromhead.

Previous Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Winners

This table below contains a breakdown of all of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle winners from the last decade. Can you spot any patterns that will help you pick the winner of this year’s race?

Year Winner Age SP Trainer Jockey
2023 Stay Away Fay 6 18/1 Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden
2022 The Nice Guy 7 18/1 Willie Mullins Sean O'Keeffe
2021 Vanillier 6 14/1 Gavin Cromwell Mark Walsh
2020 Monkfish 6 5/1 Willie Mullins Paul Townend
2019 Minella Indo 6 50/1 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore
2018 Kilbricken Storm 7 33/1 Colin Tizzard Harry Cobden
2017 Penhill 6 16/1 Willie Mullins Paul Townend
2016 Unowhatimeanharry 8 11/1 Harry Fry Noel Fehily
2015 Martello Tower 7 14/1 Margaret Mullins Adrian Heskin
2014 Very Wood 5 33/1 Noel Meade Paul Carberry
2013 At Fishers Cross 6 11/8 Rebecca Curtis A P McCoy

Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle FAQs

Finding Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Tips