2022 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle

[Istabraq]

Prices at 23/3/21

Kilcruit 12/1
Sir Gerhard 25/1
Journey With Me 33/1
Ramilies 33/1
Grangee 40/1

[Odin]

Can I put this right at the start... Journey With Me wins (hopefully).

I'm now there to be shot at for the next 5.5 months!

[ToniC]

Can I put this right at the start... Journey With Me wins (hopefully).

I'm now there to be shot at for the next 5.5 months!

I know Declan Phelan has apparently said he’s a Bartlett horse but he doesn’t look slow to me, he’s got a big stride on him but doesn’t exactly look a boat either. My first thought was that he’d be a Ballymore horse, and that’s not just a lazy comparison with Bob O. I have backed him for both races now, be daft not to given the comments, however I doubt they’d be starting him out over 3 miles and if he doesn’t get beat over 20 furlongs there may be a reluctance to change what works.

[Odin]

I know Declan Phelan has apparently said he’s a Bartlett horse but he doesn’t look slow to me, he’s got a big stride on him but doesn’t exactly look a boat either. My first thought was that he’d be a Ballymore horse, and that’s not just a lazy comparison with Bob O. I have backed him for both races now, be daft not to given the comments, however I doubt they’d be starting him out over 3 miles and if he doesn’t get beat over 20 furlongs there may be a reluctance to change what works.

I'd agree he doesn't look slow, but I've had him as a Bartlett horse since he was described as a 'galloper' in his Bumper win (Bob was described as 'speedy') and I've just pinned my colours to the mast - I have him in a roll up that will pay for my whole antepost pot if he wins, notwithstanding anything else so I'm definitely hoping he has at least a few good performances to give me a cashout option if you're right!

If he doesn't go to the Bartlett, I hope he does the business for you in the Ballymore - although it would be gutting for me as I've very little on him for that race!

[Atlantic Viking]

It's really difficult to know what to make of the Journey With Me bumper run, i've watched it a daft amount of times now and it's just laughably easy for him, struggling to think of another race i've seen where a horse basically gets eased down 2f out when they were barely out of the low gears in the first place! Of course when forming an opinion this early, much rests with those in behind, none of which will ever go on to make headlines it's safe to say, but the 2nd, Galudon, is now with Harry Whittington who picked him as the horse to follow from his stable on a visit from Paul Ferguson. The 60l 3rd in the same race has had a few creditable runs since, albeit at a low grade. They weren't all total donkeys and JWM couldn't possibly have beaten them any easier.
I initially backed him as a Ballymore type but have come round more to the AB in recent weeks, either way I have him backed all over the place! Worth remembering when making comparisons to Bob Olinger that Henry intended Bob for the Supreme at a similar stage, before being convinced to go the Ballymore route. So perhaps JWM is just a more obvious fit for the Ballymore? Who knows?! Backing for both, with cash out, is the obvious answer as ever! If he's as good as many of us hope and think he will be then you'll be in a great position.
Another thing to bear in mind that becomes clear quite quickly when watching both the Bob and JWM runs at Gowran Park is that on paper the Bob ground of 'soft to heavy' doesn't sound hugely different to the 'heavy' that JWM ran on, but the latter would be much better described as 'absolute mudbath'.
Anyway, I just can't wait to see him, we all have a couple of horses with the potential to make our entire festival and he's definitely one of mine.

[Topofthegame2021]

Can I put this right at the start... Journey With Me wins (hopefully).

I'm now there to be shot at for the next 5.5 months!

Decided the other day he’s my NAP of the Fez. He’s now the background on my phone and computer screen

[Lbur4288]

As Viking has already said about Bob Olinger rerouting...Henry dB isn't opposed to rerouting a horse if he feels its better for the horses and the horses chances. Covering JWM for both races isn't the worst move anyone could make, especially with the option of cashing out if possible.

Away from that, I have backed far more for this than I have in previous years (particularly at this stage) but I do feel these others are worthy of a mention.

Letsbeclearaboutit - Well beaten by Kilcruit over 2 mile hurdles but looks a chaser in the making and I think a campaign over longer distance hurdling will be his forte this year. Gavin Cromwell horses over 3 miles plus I find he's very good with (Flooring Porter and Vanillier recent Cheltenham examples).

Hollow Games - Gordon looks stacked with novice talent along with Mullins. I think of the horses he has, this could well be his spud race horse.

Whatdeawant - a bit of a left field choice but has form against some of the top novice hurdlers (or soon to be) such as Kilcruit, Ginto and Chemical Energy. The run that caught my eye was the third place behind Kilcruit. Over 2 miles he was not even in camera shot 2 furlongs out before absolutely flashing home to nick an unlikely third placed finish. Over a longer trip I have no doubt he's capable of first of all getting the trip but also putting in a nice finish and building up a lot of pace for a distance horse. Absolutely worth some small stakes at the odds.

[Eudipe]

Beating the drum for O'Toole here. I rate that Punchestown Champion bumper form highly as a truly run affair on tiring ground. Winning rider Derek O'Connor quote: 'the way the race worked out, and the pace, it ended up being a right staying race....it's actually riding quite tiring. For the ground conditions we were going a good gallop and it ended up being a staying race.'(IR). By Mahler & a half brother to a 3m H'cap hurdler, O'Toole looks a light athletic type to me. With his class, the way he relaxes and responds I could see him winning a maiden & novice hurdle over 2m4f+ without having a hard race, then maybe one or two decent tests in graded company and a leading chance going into the Albert Bartlett.

[Lobos]

Like that Eudipe. Backed him for Albert as well and think that's where he'll end up if the season goes as planned.

[taylorch1990]

I'd agree with the general view that Journey With Me and Let'sbeclearaboutit are the 2 at the moment personally have a slight preference for Let'sbeclearaboutit. One not priced up yet who I like is Gold Cup Bailly. Ran twice last year finishing 3rd and 2nd over 2m4 with the second run being the eye-catcher. He finished 4 lengths 2nd to Ahoy Senor with 15 lengths back to the third. Ahoy Senor obviously gave that form a massive boost at Aintree. I think having the experience over hurdles and with it being solid form he could be a livewire, just need to get him priced up.

[Sprinter Sacre]

I think one of Classic Getaway/Grangeclare West will end up coming here and have to respected, should they live up to their reputations.

[ToniC]

I think one of Classic Getaway/Grangeclare West will end up coming here and have to respected, should they live up to their reputations.

Classic getaway to emulate monkfish perhaps. Interesting they opted for a 2m4 bumper with him.

[Sprinter Sacre]

Classic getaway to emulate monkfish perhaps. Interesting they opted for a 2m4 bumper with him.

I think the likeliest course is CG coming here and GW heading to the Ballymore. Both stayers but apparently GW has more speed.

[ToniC]

I think the likeliest course is CG coming here and GW heading to the Ballymore. Both stayers but apparently GW has more speed.

yeah it’s hard to not get carried away with these chevely park horses and the ridiculous success they’ve achieved with such a small number of horses, talk about high quality buys, but natural variance has to mean they can’t all be super stars. Personally I’ve been a lot more visually taken with CG than GW, in both their respective p2ps and bumpers, and think I’ll opt to reserve judgement on GW until I’ve seen him In another race.

[HoldenTheReins]

Curious to see what people think of Ginto for this.