The Grade 2 Prestige Novices Hurdle is one of the last trials for the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and now shares the same sponsor.
The race has Grade 2 status in its own right and last years winner Brindisi Breeze doubled up in the Grade 1 event at Cheltenham. Other notable horses on the roll of honour include the World Hurdle winner Iris’s Gift and the 2012 Grand National winner Neptune Collonges.
The 2013 renewal is scheduled to take place at Haydock Park racecourse on the 16 February.
Prestige Novices Hurdle Stats 2003-2012
- The now absent Howard Johnson had been trainer to follow
- It may pay to continue to follow northern based trainers (have won the last 3)
- Winners have been rated between 130 and 152
- 6 of the last 10 winners has an SP of 9-4 or less ( but none of last 3)
- Just one winner older than 6 in the decade
Prestige Novices Hurdle Winners 2003-2012
| Year | Horse | Age | Jockey | Trainer | OR | Odds |
| 2012 | Brindisi Breeze (IRE) | 6 | Campbell Gillies | L V Russsell | 140 | 9-2 |
| 2011 | Back In Focus (IRE) | 6 | Brian Hughes | H Johnson | – | 16-1 |
| 2010 | Wymott (IRE) | 6 | Jason Maguire | Donald McCain | 130 | 4-1 |
| 2009 | Tarablaze | 6 | Tony McCoy | Philip Hobbs | 138 | 1-5 |
| 2008 | Tazbar (IRE) | 6 | Phil Kinsella | Keith Reveley | 137 | 5-4 |
| 2007 | Chief Dan George (IRE) | 7 | Alan Dempsey | James Moffatt | 130 | 9-1 |
| 2006 | Neptune Collonges (FR) | 5 | Christian Williams | Paul Nicholls | 152 | 2-11 |
| 2005 | Mephisto (IRE) | 6 | Timmy Murphy | H Johnson | – | 9-4 |
| 2004 | Royal Rosa (FR) | 5 | Graham Lee | H Johnson | 142 | 9-4 |
| 2003 | Iris’s Gift | 6 | Barry Geraghty | Jonjo O’Neill | 142 | 8-13 |
Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle Odds
