Albert Bartlett 2015

[Yeehaa]

Sam Twiston-Davies will ride Blaklion for his father, Nigel, in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Blaklion has been ridden by Jamie Moore and Ryan Hatch this season, with Twiston-Davies jnr usually required by his boss, Paul Nicholls.

However, with Nicholls not set to be represented in the three-mile event, his name will appear against the six-year-old, a Grade Two winner already this season at Cheltenham.

Last time out he was involved in a duel with Zeroeshadesofgrey half a mile from home in the River Don at Doncaster, only to be caught close home by Caracci Apache.

"I'll ride Blaklion for my Dad as Paul has nothing in the Albert Bartlett," said Twiston-Davies.

"I haven't ridden him over hurdles in a race but I won two bumpers on him and ride him at home a bit so I know him well.

"The two lads got racing a long way out at Doncaster last time and were done by one flying at the finish.

"He's had a break since and will go there fresh and well."

[mayo]

Tony Keenan

Both the front two can be opposed here; Black Hercules lacks experience and has achieved relatively little over hurdles while No More Heroes ran poorly last time (albeit with excuses) and is unproven on decent ground. I like a pair of similar types from each country, both of whom have plenty of experience, seem likely to stay well and handle good ground.
Martello Tower is a tough sort and has run in many of the better Irish novices with distinction; a slowly-run 20 furlongs was no good to him last time. Harry Fry has had this race in mind for Thomas Brown for a while and he has course form; the step up to three miles should bring improvement.

Back Martello Tower @ 16.0 and Thomas Brown @ 16.0 in the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle

https://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/horseracing-tips/cheltenham-novice-races-tips-preview-020315-293.html?rfr=798967&mpch=ads

[Liam301287]

Very happy Sam will be riding my hope in this for his father. 14's managed to get Blaklion in the end.

[Mytentoryours]

Incredible how competitive this race is. Some of the others can be narrowed down to a couple in your mind but, Black Hercules, No More Heroes, Value At Risk, Thomas Brown, Martello Tower, Vyta Du Roc, Blakilon. Can anyone rule any of those out with any confidence?

[Captain Christy]

Incredible how competitive this race is. Some of the others can be narrowed down to a couple in your mind but, Black Hercules, No More Heroes, Value At Risk, Thomas Brown, Martello Tower, Vyta Du Roc, Blakilon. Can anyone rule any of those out with any confidence?

Out sam and Tea for two ?

[Mytentoryours]

Out sam and Tea for two ?

Exactly potentially another two there although I wouldn't like to back an inexperienced horse like Out Sam in a race like this.

[Morning Glory]

[Old Vic]

THE FESTIVAL 2015, CHELTENHAM
RACENEWS RACECOURSE SERVICE
GOLD CUP DAY, FRIDAY, MARCH 13

Martello Towers over rivals

Martello Tower gave trainer Mags Mullins her first Festival winner when running out the game winner of the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle this afternoon.

The 14/1 shot got into a protracted battle with the Gigginstown House Stud-owned pair Milsean (ridden by Mullins' son Danny) and No More Heroes approaching the last, but dug deep to repel the challenge of the former to record a half length victory in a slow-motion finish.

Mullins, who was married to trainer Willie Mullins' brother Tony (also a trainer), was ecstatic after the race and could scarcely believe her horse had won.

"It's brilliant - I'm so delighted!" enthused the trainer.

"I was very confident before the race as I knew he'd stay but sometimes it's a different league over here so you're nervous as everything has to go right. Everything has gone right though from the time we've arrived and it also did during the race. It doesn't always work that way.

"He's just so tough and always keeps going - you never get to the end of him. It's great to get a winner at the Festival - I'm so excited! I've trained a winner here at the November meeting but never at The Festival.

"It's great to see Danny ride the second and I also have the mother of this horse at home as well so it's a real family affair. Danny actually rode him out this morning and he said he thought he had a big chance too.

"I've only had the one runner at The Festival before and he came third in this race (Travino who finished behind Black Jack Ketchum in the 2006 running). It's great to win but the main thing is they all came back in one piece.

"I've got about 15 to 20 horses in training at the moment - they're all a mix of everything. I'm so happy for Brian (Connell - owner) as he deserves a big winner here."

Tower battles to victory for Heskin

Adrian Heskin rode the second Festival winner of his career on Martello Tower, trained by Margaret Mullins, in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. His first was A New Story for Michael Hourigan in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase in 2010.

Heskin said: "It was a long wait but, by God, I will enjoy this one. I was only 17 and I didn't realise what it was; it was my first ride here. I've put in a lot of hard work since then, and great thanks to Barry Connell for giving me the opportunity to ride in these [races]; without him I wouldn't be here today."

"Martello Tower is a real tough horse but all he does is find and find off the bridle. He pricked his ears about five times after the last and I said "I have plenty left here" so I got stuck into him and he delivered.

"On the ground, I was afraid that he might have done too much with me early so I did fill him away down the hill. There's not a blow out of the horse and he's a fair one.

"I was up the tails of the leaders the whole way and we didn't get much kickback.

"We were pleased to see the rain come this morning. I knew it would be a battle from the turn-in and this horse wouldn't let you down in a battle.

"Fair play to Mrs Mullins, she had him timed to the minute today and the three miles is right up his alley.

"He was never doing a whole pile under me - he's an idle sort of horse and you'd want to be as hard as you can on him because he keeps finding, and that's one of his great attributes. He's going to be around for a long time.

"He's a future chaser without a doubt. He'll give all the top novices a good crack next year and hopefully we'll be lucky with him."

Commenting on the ground, he said: "It's getting open now. It's proper soft ground."

Milsean justifies lorry trip from Ireland

Willie Mullins cannot train every winner at the Cheltenham Festival, but a second and fourth in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle was a fair return.

Milsean, a 33/1 shot ridden by Danny Mullins, made much of the running and was still in front over the final flight, but just failed to repel the winner, Martello Tower, who won by half a length. The runner-up and third-placed No More Heroes, who was a length further behind in third, came close together on the run-in when the last-named attempted to gain a run between Milsean and the rail.

Bryan Cooper had to snatch up the Gordon Elliott-trained No More Heroes, but at a stewards' inquiry the result was allowed to stand. Both horses are in the ownership of Gigginstown House Stud.

Mullins, who also saddled Arbre De Vie, who was fourth, said of Milsean: "The O'Learys [Michael and Eddie of Gigginstown House Stud] and myself have just decided we need to run him every week between now and the Punchestown Festival because he's such a barrel of a horse. He would eat stones - he's such a big, gross horse.

"All the horses I've run in this race [five in total, including unplaced 5/2 favourite Black Hercules] are chasers for the future.

"I'm particularly pleased with Milsean - he had two disappointing runs before he came here and we were even wondering why we bothered to put him on the lorry, so to run as well as this is very pleasing."

2.40pm Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)
£120,000 total prize fund. For 4yo+, 3m. Weights: 4yo 10st 11lb; 5yo+ 11st 7lb. Allowances fillies & mares 7lb. Penalty value 1st £68,340.00 2nd £25,644.00 3rd £12,840.00 4th £6,396.00 5th £3,216.00 6th £1,608.00

1) MARTELLO TOWER (IRE) (Barry Connell) Margaret Mullins IRE 7-11-07 Adrian Heskin 14/1
2) MILSEAN (IRE) (Gigginstown House Stud) Willie Mullins IRE 6-11-07 Daniel Mullins 33/1
3) NO MORE HEROES (IRE) (Gigginstown House Stud) Gordon Elliott IRE 6-11-07 Bryan Cooper 6/1
4) ARBRE DE VIE (FR) (Susannah Ricci) Willie Mullins IRE 5-11-07 Paul Townend 16/1
5) VALUE AT RISK (Marc Huglin) Dan Skelton 6-11-07 Harry Skelton
6) SHANTOU BOB (IRE) (Fallon, Shipp & Bolingbroke) Warren Greatrex t7-11-07 Gavin Sheehan
7) BLACK HERCULES (IRE) (Andrea & Graham Wylie) Willie Mullins IRE 6-11-07 Ruby Walsh 5/2f
8) MEASUREOFMYDREAMS (IRE) (Gigginstown House Stud) Willie Mullins IRE 7-11-07 Mikey Fogarty
9) NATIVE RIVER (IRE) (Brocade Racing) Colin Tizzard 5-11-07 Brendan Powell
10) SHANROE SANTOS (IRE) (James Summers) Lucy Wadham 6-11-07 Leighton Aspell
PU) THOMAS BROWN (The Corse Lawners) Harry Fry p6-11-07 Noel Fehily
PU) CARACCI APACHE (IRE) (Henry Ponsonby) Nicky Henderson 5-11-07 Nico de Boinville
PU) CARNINGLI (IRE) (The Newport Partnership) Rebecca Curtis 6-11-07 Tom Scudamore
PU) TEA FOR TWO (Jane Williams & Len Jakerman) Nick Williams h6-11-07 Lizzie Kelly
PU) AVANT TOUT (FR) (Supreme Horse Racing Club) Willie Mullins IRE 5-11-07 David Casey
PU) KYLEMORE LOUGH (M McMahon) Richard Lee 6-11-07 Charlie Poste
PU) DEFINITLY RED (IRE) (Phil Martin) Brian Ellison 6-11-07 Richard Johnson
Fell) OUT SAM (Richard & Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes) Nicky Henderson 6-11-07 Barry Geraghty
PU) BLAKLION (Simon Such & Gino Paletta) Nigel Twiston-Davies 6-11-07 Sam Twiston-Davies

19 ran
Non-runner: Fletchers Flyer (self cert - temperature)
Distances: ½, 1, 3¼, 11, 2½, 17, 8, 10, 3
Breeder: Martin Cullinane
Breeding: b g Milan - Johnsalice (IRE) (Zaffaran (USA))
Tote Win £16.10 Place £4.50 £11.40 £2.50 Exacta £635.60

Winning Trainer: MARGARET (MAG) MULLINS Based: Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny Background: Started riding out for Paddy Mullins and took out an amateur licence, also former champion lady rider twice. Was married to fellow trainer Tony Mullins. Cheltenham Festival wins (1): Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (2015 Martello Tower) Big race wins: Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle (2005 Travino) Wins in Britain this season: 1

Winning Jockey: Adrian Heskin Background: Graduated from the pony racing circuit. Joined Michael Hourigan stable after leaving school. Appointed retained rider to leading Irish owner Barry Connell in October, 2014. First Winner: Mystical Breeze, Johnstown Handicap Hurdle, Naas, March 14, 2009 Cheltenham Festival Wins (2): Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (2015 Martello Tower), Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (2010 A New Story) Wins in Britain this season: 1