2021 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle

[Redbridge]

Fakiera K Donoghue.

Torygraph Jack Kennedy.

As expected nothing to do with jockey choice here, Giggingstown first call.

[ToniC]

Added pats fancy, 40/1 with Betfair paying 5 places on the race! Was on the cusp and the jockey booking has pulled me in. Forget the last run, where just about everything pulled up, but a fair second the day before that when bypassing the last which wouldn’t have suited. Plenty of racing experience from points & bumpers, has a run at the course in the one novice hurdle where that really does seem to be an advantage; 5 of the last 11 winners of the Bartlett had previously ran over hurdles at the course - this is more than the Ballymore or the supreme (1/11 had in the Ballymore, with envoi running in the bumper at the course and 3/11 had in the supreme with another 2 running in bumpers at the course) with 2 Bartlett winners since 2010 coming from the Bartlett trial including at fishers cross for the same trainer as pats fancy.

i can’t take credit for the next bit as I saw it posted by somebody else on Twitter, but progeny of Pats Fancy’s sire Oscar have won the race 3 times including again at fishers cross for the same trainer, with latest exhibition finishing a very close third last year. Trainer also had Bartlett 4th ofaolains boy by the same sire finish 4th in the Bartlett.

[charlie]

1pt EW on Streets Of Doyen @ 25/1

Under the radar and low profile. Raced over the summer, was then put away in October, then raced on the 28th Feb at Naas over an inadequate trip to blow away the cobwebs and get him right for Cheltenham.

The market is dominated by big name trainers and I can't help but feel if this lad were one of Gordons or Willies he would be far more popular, and probably campaigned differently to expose more of his ability (or lack of for all I know).

This race has been the trainers long term plan, and the step up to 3m has been the making of this horse. He is 4/4 over 3m on good ground, which includes winning over 3m back in October at Cheltenham.

He doesn't have the obvious class that some of the horses have towards the top of the market, but you don't always want class in this race, and he's definitely not a million miles away on ratings, and he's a real battler.

I actually think he's a par on ratings and a massive price. He was successful off 113 at Roscommon in September, before following up off 120 at Gowran. That day he beat now rated 160 Flooring Porter, albeit in receipt of a stone, but that's very good form and its not like they finished in a heap, they were going away from the field. He was raised to 130 for those efforts then won again at Cork 15 days later. He then went to Cheltenham and beat Polish 6L at Cheltenham giving away 3lbs - that horse is now rated 137 having won well at the weekend.

IMO Streets Of Doyen is a 140's horse, no question. He did all the above winning in less than 26 days. I think that's seriously impressive, and I can't think of many examples where that many runs over 3m is attempted, let alone 1111 achieved in that space of time while going up 25+lbs - happy to be proven wrong on that one.

Stattler and Fakiera are also low 140's horses, but significantly shorter, and I think the class of last years winners is skewering peoples perceptions of what's required to win this race (I don't mean on here, I mean generally in the market). For every 150's horse that wins this there is one rated 140, and I think this race looks fairly weak, and Streets Of Doyen looks fairly strong.

There are two things that stand in his favour: ground and cheltenham experience. He loves good ground and a lot of form going into the race is on soft/heavy. Now of course, some of those horses could improve, but they all certainly wouldn't, and it's a big plus for him if the forecast stays the same. Cheltenham experience is the second big plus.

He ticks lots of the stats boxes too:

13 of the last 15 were six or seven years of age and he's 7
8 of last 10 placed hurdle form over at least 2m 7f and he's 4/4 over 3m
Favourites have a terrible record in the race and he definitely won't be favourite
6/8 started hurdling over 2m which he did, he has more than 3 runs over hurdles which is good experience
7/16 were course winners which he is
Irish trained have won 5/7 races.

He will be an in play based bet too (Richard Johnson post Cheltenham):

I spoke to the trainer this morning who told me how tough and straightforward Streets Of Doyen was, but he added the horse can come off the bridle and it's the end of the race you'll find the best of him. Going out the final circuit, I wasn't travelling that well, but he kept responding when I got stuck into him and he did it well. He's very tough. The rain's getting in and it's getting hard work. I think connections are thinking about the Albert Bartlett, but he might have a winter holiday now

Will be watching Flooring Porter with a keen eye today. If he wins, or runs well in the stayers, then Streets Of Doyen will inevitably shorten.

Everything is working out quite well here. The 11 ahead of him the market at the time of posting are now 8. We know the ground is likely to be good ground, and how many ahead of him in the market want genuinely good ground, or have even run on good ground?

His good ground 3m form is 4/4 and he's already shortened to 16 in places from 25. I love him for this

[lloydy]

Have you done the double Charlie, FP and SoD?

[charlie]

Have you done the double Charlie, FP and SoD?

I have now! haha

[charlie]

Will be watching Flooring Porter with a keen eye today. If he wins, or runs well in the stayers, then Streets Of Doyen will inevitably shorten.

Everything is working out quite well here. The 11 ahead of him the market at the time of posting are now 8. We know the ground is likely to be good ground, and how many ahead of him in the market want genuinely good ground, or have even run on good ground?

His good ground 3m form is 4/4 and he's already shortened to 16 in places from 25. I love him for this

What a franking of the form. Streets Of Doyen now being smashed up!

[lloydy]

Looking forward to the bartlett now charlie after FP

[charlie]

Looking forward to the bartlett now charlie after FP

Good stuff pal

[charlie]

Streets Of Doyen now 7/1.

[Sprinter Sacre]

I have an antepost on Torygraph but the two I like ahead of him right now are Streets of Doyen and Threeunderthrufive.

[charlie]

The prep run was shite though?

I had him 2 pts e/w at 40/1, and cashed 1 pt e/w in....

I wouldn't back him at 40s with a free bet. Complete waste.

I'll leave 1pt e/w because of the trainers record.... but he's a poor bet ante post at 25/1

I'd be amazed if you can't get that before SP (with enhanced terms or BOG etc)

Your week has been sick enough where I feel I can gently rib you for this

25/1 now 13/2

[Hurricane fly]

I have an antepost on Torygraph but the two I like ahead of him right now are Streets of Doyen and Threeunderthrufive.

These are my two to go to war with really. Lost doubles with Envoi with them both at 33s so a bit of a sickener having to go in again with them in the teens

[mayo]

Streets Of Doyen now 7/1.

That is just taking it too far. But I did think the same about the shunters price.

[Kevloaf]

Your week has been sick enough where I feel I can gently rib you for this

25/1 now 13/2

You can't eat value.

Let's see where he finishes




Too much of an over reaction to beating Flooring Porter.... FP has clearly improved and improved since then.... SOD has gotten worse.

I should have cashed the full 4 pts

[charlie]

Ngolo winning would be such a Willie Mullins thing to do wouldn’t it?