2022 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle

[Eggs]

….Gerri C’s odds for this having a healthy haircut this afternoon. 33-1 into 20-1 with 365, 25-1 into 20-1 with PP/BFSB. 25-1 remains with Hills.

[spotthediff]

I've backed Gerri in this at 50's so pleased to see that entry. Torygraph won the race last year for Gordon and he went on to run in the Bartlett.

[ToniC]

In 2015 Gordon ran a horse called westend star in the same down royal maiden hurdle on st Stephen’s day, followed by the same race in thurles that GC is now entered in, followed by the same clonmel race that has also been mentioned as possible for GC, before running in the Martin pipe where he wasn’t really fancied (16/1 SP), and never really got into the race finishing 16th.

Ok, not that interesting so far, but the year later, he used the same down royal maiden to get the storyteller off the mark, again followed by the race in thurles. He didn’t have to run again before the pipe as he’d already ran in a maiden prior to down royal so had his three runs it, but it’s interesting none the less to see that it’s a path been trodden before by potential Martin pipe horses.

If it was just the one I’d be inclined to not be so interested, but the fact another horse went a similar route the next year, and was very fancied for the race makes it a bit more interesting. If he’s declared to run at the weekend and isn’t pulled due to the ground I think I’ll have a wager on him for the MP.

[Craigy14]

In 2015 Gordon ran a horse called westend star in the same down royal maiden hurdle on st Stephen’s day, followed by the same race in thurles that GC is now entered in, followed by the same clonmel race that has also been mentioned as possible for GC, before running in the Martin pipe where he wasn’t really fancied (16/1 SP), and never really got into the race finishing 16th.

Ok, not that interesting so far, but the year later, he used the same down royal maiden to get the storyteller off the mark, again followed by the race in thurles. He didn’t have to run again before the pipe as he’d already ran in a maiden prior to down royal so had his three runs it, but it’s interesting none the less to see that it’s a path been trodden before by potential Martin pipe horses.

If it was just the one I’d be inclined to not be so interested, but the fact another horse went a similar route the next year, and was very fancied for the race makes it a bit more interesting. If he’s declared to run at the weekend and isn’t pulled due to the ground I think I’ll have a wager on him for the MP.

I’d be very surprised if they thought he was handicap quality given he is 4/4.

He is a graded horse in waiting imo. If they seem unwilling to run 2 against each other here or the Ballymore, I can see one being kept away from Cheltenham for Aintree 3m race.

[Fouroverthrutwo]

He is a graded horse in waiting imo....

Perfect for a handicap then.

I was struggling to figure out how Robcour were going to split their horses but it would make sense if they sent this lad to a handicap and sent JWM to The Bartlett and Grand Jury to The Ballymore. Although Gerri Colombe has done nothing wrong to date he is not proven at the top level so would be the ideal candidate for The Martin Pipe imo.

[Istabraq]

Perfect for a handicap then.

I was struggling to figure out how Robcour were going to split their horses but it would make sense if they sent this lad to a handicap and sent JWM to The Bartlett and Grand Jury to The Ballymore. Although Gerri Colombe has done nothing wrong to date he is not proven at the top level so would be the ideal candidate for The Martin Pipe imo.

Kind of getting tight for the horse to get 3 runs in for the Cheltenham handicaps, not impossible of course…

[Craigy14]

Perfect for a handicap then.

I was struggling to figure out how Robcour were going to split their horses but it would make sense if they sent this lad to a handicap and sent JWM to The Bartlett and Grand Jury to The Ballymore. Although Gerri Colombe has done nothing wrong to date he is not proven at the top level so would be the ideal candidate for The Martin Pipe imo.

JWM is still unproven at the top level as well so is in exactly the same boat surely?

Yes he’s entered in a Graded race but owner has said Gerri could go to Clonmel for the Grade 2 so same thing really. I think they’ll be aiming higher imo.

[Istabraq]

JWM is still unproven at the top level as well so is in exactly the same boat surely?

Yes he’s entered in a Graded race but owner has said Gerri could go to Clonmel for the Grade 2 so same thing really. I think they’ll be aiming higher imo.

And this….

[Fouroverthrutwo]

JWM is still unproven at the top level as well so is in exactly the same boat surely?

Yes he’s entered in a Graded race but owner has said Gerri could go to Clonmel for the Grade 2 so same thing really. I think they’ll be aiming higher imo.

You might be right but connections have said right from the outset that JWM will be their Bartlett horse so they must be seeing something to make them think that way.
it's all opinions at the moment and even the best laid plans can be subject to change of course. Enthralling and exasperating at the same time.

[Kevloaf]

You might be right but connections have said right from the outset that JWM will be their Bartlett horse so they must be seeing something to make them think that way.
it's all opinions at the moment and even the best laid plans can be subject to change of course. Enthralling and exasperating at the same time.

Has anyone actually got that quote?

I've heard that the person who said the quote, can be quoted as saying it's news to them?



I haven't seen either though

[Dandrew99]

Has anyone actually got that quote?

I've heard that the person who said the quote, can be quoted as saying it's news to them?



I haven't seen either though

Believe it's from RubyTuesday on twitter, passing on info from Declan Phelan.

Think this is the "news to us" bit... https://twitter.com/Ruby_Tuesday59/s...q_OTFelZQ&s=19

Maybe this is the JWM Bartlett bit?

https://twitter.com/Ruby_Tuesday59/status/1433353386167050246?t=yxGAcHddKBJTNSUdUFxB4w&s=19

He's mentioned him for the Bartlett quite a few times but that's probably the closest I've seen to a direct quote. The rest are more "he's hinted this could be the case"

[Fouroverthrutwo]

Has anyone actually got that quote?

I've heard that the person who said the quote, can be quoted as saying it's news to them?



I haven't seen either though

I'm fairly sure it was Madmoose who posted an update from Declan Phelan on Twitter very early in the season. I believe it is paid subscription based info but he was kind enough to share with the forum. It's discussed in the 2022 Novice Hurdle Division thread from page 21 onwards.
I think there have been further updates confirming this but I'm too tired to look right now!

[Exar Essay]

Madmoose posted this in November quoting Phelan:

You may have noticed that Journey With Me was scratched from an intended hurdles debut last weekend at Punchestown and he also received a 5-day entry for the 2m4f maiden hurdle on this card: due to the prevailing fast ground he again remains at home. For a horse like him who one would hope can build into a proper candidate for the Albert Bartlett, not alone is the lack of rain an issue(safest to make a hurdles debut on soft ground), there is a double whammy due to the current lack of opportunities in Ireland for novice hurdlers of his ilk. Between today(19th November) and 11th of December there is only one maiden hurdle due to be staged in Ireland beyond the 2m4f distance…a 2m5f affair next Tuesday at Punchestown, which in itself is part of the Redmills Auction series and the bulk of the classier types like Journey With Me are not qualified to run in. One can therefore play a waiting game and sit tight until mid-December or decide to run over 2m4f or shorter: the choices in this category are also limited in the next 3 to 4 weeks, with Clonmel(2m3f amateur riders on December 2nd) or Navan 2m4f on December 4th the two available options, and in the case of both tracks, they are currently providing good(to fast) conditions. Therefore, it is feasible that you will see none of the top Irish players in the staying novice hurdle division appearing in action until at least the middle of December and several will be put on hold until the Christmas festivals

[Craigy14]

You might be right but connections have said right from the outset that JWM will be their Bartlett horse so they must be seeing something to make them think that way.
it's all opinions at the moment and even the best laid plans can be subject to change of course. Enthralling and exasperating at the same time.

Yeah not denying that connections have said that about JWM but they also hoped Gerri Colombe would form into a Ballymore type (also Grade 1), so the potential for both was there from the outset. Gerri has done nothing on the track to suggest he couldn’t be imo.

As you say things change; plans change etc depending what they do on the track. As I’ve said I’d be very surprised if Gerri runs in a handicap, maybe it’s the fact he’s 4/4 and his ability which has been clear to see to us all would need to be ‘hidden’ in a couple of runs to get a handicap mark. Sure Elliott said the usual cliche ‘proper chaser in the making’ in the tours, with that in mind and Robcour already having JWM for the Albert Bartlett, Gordon may just keep Gerri back for Aintree over 3m if he doesn’t see him as a Ballymore type (this seems to have changed since start of the season). Coupled with him already having other options for those races as well.

[Bayoffreedom]

Kind of getting tight for the horse to get 3 runs in for the Cheltenham handicaps, not impossible of course…

There are two real options:

17/2 Powerstown (3 mile) at Clonmel, or
24/2 Michael Purcell (2m 5f) Thurles

They are both Grade 3. The three runs (to be handicapped) have to be take place by 27/2