LATEST UPSET
LATEST EXHIBITION is a best-priced 16-1 for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham after wearing down the unbeaten Andy Dufresne to win at Navan yesterday.
Paul Nolan’s six-year-old also gave jockey Bryan Cooper his first Graded race success for more than two years, after gaining the upperhand on the run-in to land the Grade Two Navan Novice Hurdle by two and a quarter lengths ahead of the 1-3 hot favourite from Gordon Elliott’s yard.
Stamina
Nolan said: “Brian said he nearly went down the back straight when he left his legs in a hurdle. It’s nice to be able to recover from that mistake.
“He went up alongside turning in and stayed on well. Stamina is definitely his forte and that’s the way he’s bred as well.”
Nolan has a Grade One contest at Leopardstown as the next target for Latest Exhibition before heading to the Festival in March.
“He’s gutsy and hopefully he’ll kick on now. The Lawlor’s in Naas is probably coming a bit soon now and maybe he could go for the two-milesix-furlong Grade One at Leopardstown,” said the County Wexford handler.
“We’ll make a plan for him now, with the aim being Cheltenham.
“The Albert Bartlett could be the long-term aim. It’s great for myself and Bryan. He’s a multiple Grade One-winning rider, but we all need ammunition. Everyone is in the same situation.”
A disappointed Elliott felt Andy Dufresne did not run to his best. “I don’t think he finished his race out. From the last to the line he was up and down in the one spot and the third horse got too close to him,” he said.
“I don’t want to take anything away from the winner – he was very good. We’ll have to go back to the drawing board.” Andy Dufresne has drifted out to 16-1 for the Albert Bartlett, while Thyme Hill heads the market as 8-1 favourite.
The Philip Hobbs-trained fiveyear-old won the Grade Two Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month.