Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
Champion Bumper Wednesday (4.10)
HIS Triumph Hurdle success of 2014 was only the start of it. He returned to the Festival to lift the National Hunt Chase three years later and the Glenfarclas Chase 12 months ago before landing the Grand National at Aintree 31 days on.
Fourth under top weight over the cross-country course in November, he ran away with Navan’s Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle at 25-1 on his latest start.
I couldn’t believe how well he won the Boyne Hurdle. I thought he’d finish second or third last, and that it would just be a good pipe opener for the Cross Country Chase. But it was a great performance.
To win a Grand National, three races at the Cheltenham Festival and a Boyne highlights his talent and if he hadn’t run in the Grand National we might have been thinking about the Stayers’ Hurdle.
He might not be the best I’ve ever trained, but he is the most likeable. He is a yard favourite and it puts a smile on your face, looking at a horse like him. NEWSBOY’S VERDICT: Many horses are done with winning after a Grand National triumph — but not Tiger Roll.
Despite his defeat over the banks and hedges in November, he emerged as the best horse at the weights, and the Glenfarclas Chase is a conditions race rather than a handicap.
With his Boyne Hurdle score confirming he’s at the top of his game, a remarkable fourth victory at the Cheltenham Festival is very much on the cards.
Wednesday (1.30) Friday (2.50)
MARKED his rules debut with a victory in Punchestown’s valuable Land Rover Bumper last April.
Made a six-length winning hurdles debut at the same track in November and, although last of four in the Royal Bond Hurdle over two miles at Fairyhouse the following month, he scored at the top level over two and three-quarter miles at Leopardstown in February.
He won the Land Rover Bumper and he’s a nice horse for the future.
He won the Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival the last day, and three miles of the Albert Bartlett will suit him. Softer ground wouldn’t bother him, either.
He ran well over two miles in the Royal Bond, but it was just too short for him and we knew he wanted further.
I suppose the one negative for me is that he does lack a bit of experience.
He’ll come on for his last run. He was very green, ducking and diving, but he’s got the engine. NEWSBOY’S VIEW: Only one defeat on his CV — and that came when stepping back to the minimum trip in a race that turned out to be a cat-and-mouse affair.
Strong-galloping sort looked much more at home going up to two miles and six furlongs and, with a sterner test sure to see him in his best light yet, he’s one of the obvious ones in an open-looking Albert Bartlett. WINNING point-to-pointer, set to be joined by the unbeaten
has won his three outings this winter — a bumper and two novice hurdles — by an aggregate of 22 lengths.
Latest victory came in the Grace 1 Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle, in which he accounted for Sams Profile by two and three-quarter lengths.
I’ve been pleased with his work at home. I didn’t run him at the Dublin Racing Festival, as he’d had three quick runs in six to eight weeks from winning his bumper right through to winning a Grade 1, and I wanted to give him a break.
He might lack a bit of experience but I’m happy that he jumps very, very well, I think the race will suit him and, timingwise, I think we’ve made the right decision to give him some time off and go straight to Cheltenham.
He’s a big chaser in the making — a horse for down the road.
Hard to fault what the £235,000 pointing recruit has achieved under rules.
It’s true that his task at Naas was rendered less onerous by the flop of market rival Tornado Flyer, but he’s an unbeaten Grade 1 winner who, with plenty more up his sleeve — and with the Ballymore likely to see him in his best light — rates a live danger to market leader Champ.
ODDS: 3-1