Grade Two Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Guide 2022

Outlaw Peter probably has one of the better chances here relative to his rivals today. He showed significant promise as a bumper horse, and he’s held novice status for a while now over hurdles, so he’s an experienced novice hurdler for sure.

It looks as though today’s 3m test will be right up his street, given 2 of 3 successes have came over 2m5f.

He won in an absolute canter last time out at Exeter, and there’s no reason he won’t stay today’s trip. He may well make it two on the spin here.

Grand Soir won his P2P at Lingstown on the first time of asking, he was then beaten in a bumper at Limerick by Hunters Yan of Willie Mullins.

He was unplaced in a subsequent bumper, and then his first maiden hurdle at Cork. He then won two on the spin at 3m1 and 3m, (Kilbeggan/Cork).

Last time out, at Cork, he was impressive when travelling well, hurdling well, and finishing well to beat Another Choice and Royal Romeo in second and third respectively.

He’s obviously bags of ability, and it’s starting to come together now, but he remains below the bar set in this particular contest. Interesting.

Thomas Mor looks interesting. He had a largely successful spell as a P2P horse (as young horses pointing goes) he ran some decent races against useful horses.

He got off the mark under rules at the first time of asking in October at Worcester over 2m7f when ridden out by four lengths (we know he stays).

He was dropped back in trip subsequently and made use of over 2m5f at Wincanton, but he absolutely dotted up – winning by 57 lengths from Twin Power in second.

He’s certainly an unknown quantity – who clearly has a massive engine. 

Weveallbeencaught will probably come on a bundle for his first run over hurdles. But – going back firstly, he won a very good bumper last year at Newbury in good style, four months after impressing in a P2P at Dromahane.

He was earmarked as a useful one from an early stage, and he’s certainly one still with significant promise.

Heading back to the present – he ran third in a G2 on his first start over hurdles here at Cheltenham, and was ultimately novicey at a few, and beaten by the fit – in form pair of Hermes Allen and Music Drive, which was not a bad run at all, The step up in trip should suit here, and he may well have a significant class edge on a few of these – exciting.

The penny dropped last time out with Accidental Legend, and he finally got off the mark under Paddy Brennan at Uttoxeter.

He ended up winning going away, and Fergal O’Brien said that he had appreciate the softer going, and a return to a more “galloping track”.

With that said, Cheltenham should pose as no issue to this horse, who will likely appreciate this stiff test, though there’s no denying he’s a long way off form that’s likely needed to win this at present.

Max’s Champ won a 3m P2P on the third time of asking as a young horse. He has since had the three runs under rules, where he’s finished eighth of twenty-one, fourth of eleven and last of three.

He was last of three last time out at Hexham, and though he did rally, and this was over 2m4 (provides hope for today’s trip) he really ought to have been winning against that calibre of horse there.

Now, he’s up in trip against potential G1 horses, and he makes his Graded debut himself, as a maiden – so he is hard to fancy.