I’m not certain who the Irish are running but Wholestone is the one to beat

WHOLESTONE — ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES’ HURDLE Friday (2.50)

BEGAN the current campaign with novice status after two hurdles defeats the previous winter, and has looked a different horse.

After a 10-length seasonal debut score at Warwick in September, he beat Albert Bartlett rival West Approach over three miles at Cheltenham in October. But he suffered a length defeat to Peregrine Run when stepping back to two miles and five at the track’s Open meeting the following month.

Returning to three miles, Wholestone travelled strongly before beating Ami Debois at Cheltenham 15 days before

Christmas, and racked up his third success at the track with a threelength call over two and a half miles on the Trials card. TWISTON-DAVIES SAYS: He’s

been beaten only once at Cheltenham and that was over two and a half miles — three miles suits him.

He’s done absolutely nothing wrong — there’s nothing flashy about him but he really tries, he stays and he does what has to be done.

He keeps pulling out that little bit extra, he has won three times at Cheltenham and been second there once, so he deserves to be one of the favourites.

I don’t know what the Irish are

going to bring over, but he’s the one they have to beat.

West Approach is a shorter price, but the form says we’ve beaten him twice.

NEWSBOY’S VIEW: TwistonDavies has been keen to give Wholestone plenty of match practice at Cheltenham and, with three wins there, he’s taken to the place like a duck to water.

With a likeable attitude and not fussy as concerns ground, he’s already a leading contender for the three-mile novice title.

Closely matched with rival West Approach, but both of them may have to worry about Irish challenger Death Duty. ODDS: 11-2