2017 Albert Bartlett Novices

[Faugheen_Machine]

Improving with every run too. I see him as a big danger to death duty.

[cwright23]

Surely a 3rd in a cleeve hurdle behind the stayers fav and a previous stayers winner would be good enough to go close in an AB.. Not to mention the horses he had in behind..

[Cashew King]

He's finished behind Wholestone 3 times this season though - there hasn't been much between them though on those occasions and Id rather have both of them on my side than Death Duty which I don't think has run against anything as good and has still to run over 3 miles and win on anything other than soft.

[Istabraq]

Wholestone has developed into a runner, I couldn't have him yesterday but he proved me wrong, big player...

[Old Vic]

West Approach must come into the reckoning ?

If they could get Ruby Id be backer.

Lets Dance his ride or something else iyos.

[DeeBee]

Death Duty and Invitation Only entered against each other at the weekend.

What distance kss? Mullins must really think highly of io to pitch him up against DD again which has to be a positive

Ignore me - I must have been on page 1 but got all excited when reading it thinking it was a rematch! I'll go back to sleep

[Kevloaf]

Not sure he'll get his ideal conditions at the fez if NTD is right...

"...we came here as we were hoping for the softer ground.

He's a good galloper and the rain helped."

Interesting...

Jacob added: "Wholestone has been an improving horse all year.

"I was a little bit worried about coming back to two and a half miles today but fair play to Simon, Isaac, Nigel and Anthony (Bromley - racing manager). They knew the rain was coming and it was a good test for him out there today.

"He just seems to keep improving and improving. He is just a lovely horse - he doesn't do anything flash, he doesn't do anything quick but he is a typical Nigel horse. They are very, very hardy type of horses.

"I think the Albert Bartlett at The Festival could be the race for him if we get good ground. I am not going to tell my bosses what to do - they have mastered this horse from the start of the year and all credit to them."

[Mon Brav]

We saw the winner of the Albert Bartlett yesterday...I think Wholestone looks the real deal, he will be shorter than 8's on the day.

[Kevloaf]

Still 20 available for Wholestone. 1 error today but can't not be impressed with him.... keeps getting to the front and hasn't been headed.

UNWIMH won the race last year and was under rated all season...

11th December.... didn't get much love at the time for this but he has KEPT doing things right.... big big player now... one of the best clashes between UK and IRE as it stands?

[Mon Brav]

What a great shout that was Kev...knew very little about the horse before the weekend, so your on?

[Kevloaf]

Not for a lot, but I have backed at 20s (or 16s) can't check.

I do have him in a double with Messire Des Obeaux in the Neptune who is another unsexy horse but I figured they both have guts, will definitely be kept apart and jockeys can get on a roll if confidence is up and D.Jacob seems to be one of those kinda riders... one winner in the week might lead to another...

[Mytentoryours1]

It would be nice if they took a few hurdles out again in March. Also a big fan of Wholestone and got him at 16/1. He is capable of jumping well but he throws in a few scruffy leaps in his races.

[jono]

So both Wholestone and West Approach showing that formline is incredibly strong in this division once again. It's interesting how the markets have prized the pair up.

I actually backed (and kept backing!) West Approach in his first 3 runs this season at Cheltenham and there's certainly a case to be made for him on each run..

October - Over 3m - Beaten 1/2 length by Wholestone BUT was giving the winner 3lbs
November - 2m4 - Wholestone beats him again (this time level weights) by 3.5L but both behind Peregrine Run BUT trip too short for his best
December - Back up to 3m - level weights - held up in the rear, making good progress before huge error ended any chance

Then add in 2 really strong runs in open company means I can't knock anyone fancying him or him being high up in the betting but surely now you'd have to side with Wholestone between the pair? I really struggle to see him reversing the form with Wholestone so surprised to see him at the same price (8's) - even more so when William Hill have him 4's (compared to Wholestone at 7's)

Push comes to shove i'd side with his fella between the 2.

Death Duty will have a real fight on his hands

[Kevloaf]

West Approach must come into the reckoning ?

If they could get Ruby Id be backer.

Lets Dance his ride or something else iyos.

IF they did get Ruby, West pproach be shorter than Wholestone and you'd HAVE to back them both?

So many mares to split up, surely one of them goes here? Let's Dance would have a say too.... this could be a cracking race couldn't it!


Agree with jono in the post above too...

[Cashew King]

Wholestone going straight to this according to Bromley...

"The idea now is to go for the Albert Bartlett. He's won over three miles twice and has won at Cheltenham three times so we're happy to keep going there.

"He won't run again beforehand and his form ties in very closely with West Approach, who finished third in the Cleeve.

"Those two look to be the two leading British contenders for the Albert Bartlett."