*Odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing / Antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason – you will lose your stake under traditional Antepost rules
Cheltenham Festival 2023 is eight weeks away and racing fans will be looking for a little bit of insight into every race, so we’ve got jump jockey icon turned tactical guru Ruby Walsh and top pundit Rory Delargy with us every week to hopefully get you more bang for your buck.
The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle seems a wide open affair on Friday March 17th but who do you fancy?
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Our dynamic duo will be doing weekly ante-post podcasts to deliver their early thoughts on every race – amazing, eh?
Henry De Bromhead’s Hiddenvalley Lake is near the top of the betting for the three mile showdown but is it worth looking elsewhere?
RUBY WALSH: Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
The high profile runner who has lost his way but could get back on track is last year’s Champion Bumper runner-up American Mike. He chased home Facile Vega then was third at the Punchestown Festival. He won at Down Royal and then couldn’t beat Dawn Rising at Navan last time. He’s definitely the class horse in this field and if he was to come back to form he sticks out like a sore thumb. But how he is and where he is right now I couldn’t tell you.
Favori De Champdou stayed really well at Limerick and jumped well. Those three miles are tough and you’re guaranteed to stay when you go to Cheltenham having run in that Novice Hurdle. He was a decent-enough winner of it. How strong is the form? It’s probably alright but we’ll find out a bit more as we get closer to March.
In terms of Willie Mullins’ horses, Grangeclare West and Dark Raven are listed in the betting. The latter was a 2m winner at Christmas but it would probably be a stretch to say he could get the trip and looking at Willie’s entries there’s not loads on offer.
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I’m not sure Champ Kiely or Gaelic Warrior would be comfortable stepping up to 3m. Seabank Bistro has disappointed a couple of times this year and so has Madmansgame. Lisnagar Fortune was second at Tramore over 2m6f in his last start and is a possible runner, but I wouldn’t be going strong on any of Willies’ at this stage.
American Mike looks a good price now, he could look a ridiculous price after the Dublin Racing Festival. Weveallbeencaught looks like an improver and I Dawn Rising could be another one at a big price given the way he came home in the Lawlors of Naas Hurdle last time. It looked to me like he wants to go up in trip.
Ruby’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Antepost Tips
American Mike
Weveallbeencaught
Dawn Rising
*Odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing / Antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason – you will lose your stake under traditional Antepost rules
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