- Cheltenham Festival Day 1
- Cheltenham Festival Day 2
- Cheltenham Festival Day 3
- Cheltenham Festival Day 4
- All Day 1 Races - 14th March 2023
- Cheltenham Tips
- Cheltenham Free Bets
- 13:30 Supreme Novices' Hurdle
- 14:10 Arkle Trophy
- 14:50 Ultima Handicap Chase
- 15:30 Champion Hurdle
- 16:10 Mares' Hurdle
- 16:50 Fred Winter
- 17:30 National Hunt Chase
- All Day 2 Races - 15th March 2023
- Cheltenham Tips
- Cheltenham Free Bets
- 13:30 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
- 14:10 Brown Adv Novices Chase
- 14:50 Coral Cup
- 15:30 QM Champion Chase
- 16:10 Cross Country Chase
- 16:50 Grand Annual Chase
- 17:30 Champion Bumper
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Entries: 77 horses entered for Grade 1 staying event
A bumper list of 77 horses have been entered for the 2023 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, which is one of the star Grade 1 races on Cheltenham Gold Cup day on Friday 17th March, and we take a look at the full list of runners and the latest odds for the staying event...
Henry De Bromhead trained subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo to glory in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle back in 2019 and the Irish handler could have another smart stayer in the shape of Hiddenvalley Lake, who propelled to ante-post favourite for the 3m Grade 1 after he stormed to an emphatic win in a Grade 3 at Cork. An eight length winner that day over Cool Survivor, who also holds an entry, Hiddenvalley Lake was installed as the 11/2 market leader for this contest and is one of the star names amongst 77 horses entered for the contest.
Willie Mullins has saddled two of the last three winners with Monkfish (2020) and The Nice Guy (2022) handing the Closutton master glory in this event and he is sure to have a strong contingent take their chance here, and spearheading the team could be Embassy Gardens. The 7/1 second favourite was a facile 35-length winner at Thurles last time out, and while this is a huge step up in class he could be one that improves as the season goes on and could be well fancied come day four of the Cheltenham Festival in mid-March.
The aforementioned duo of Hiddenvalley Lake and Embassy Gardens are only pair priced up at single figures, which shows the hugely competitive nature of the ante-post market, but the Paul Nolan-trained Sandor Clegane shaped with real promise at Punchestown last time out and at 10/1 is of notable interest, with the likes of Corbetts Cross, Grangeclare West and Favori De Champdou all sitting around a similar price in the betting.
- 3
1/5 - 3
1/5 - 3
1/5 - 3
1/5 - 3
1/5 - 3
1/5 - 4
1/5 - 3
1/5
Cheltenham Festival News
- See all the latest Cheltenham Festival Odds here
- See the best Cheltenham Festival Bets from our bookmaker partners
- See our Cheltenham Festival Tips here come March.
#AD New customers on mobile only. 7 days to claim and stake £10 minimum bet at odds of 1.5 or greater to qualify. Free, void, cashed out or partially cashed out bets do not qualify. Max 3x £10 free bets credited on bet settlement. Free bets must be used on 4 or more selections with selection odds of 1.3 or greater. Free bets are non-withdrawable, and stake not returned with winnings. 7 day expiry. 18+BeGambleAware.org. T&Cs apply.
Runner-up to current Supreme Novices' Hurdle favourite Facile Vega in last season's Champion Bumper, the Gordon Elliott-trained American Mike holds an entry here, but while the aforementioned Mullins-trained star has been a real revelation over timber, American Mike has been very hit and miss. However, if he can show his best form in this event then he has to be an eye-catching contender, should he take up his entry and he's around the 16/1 mark.
Arguably the most fascinating entry of the lot is star Flat performer Princess Zoe, who has been handed an entry by trainer Tony Mullins. A Group class performer on her day, she could be set for a campaign over hurdles this term, and at 25/1 she is sure to appeal to some punters who could feel she could ruffle some feather over the sticks in the coming months.
Of the others, Ballymore Novices' Hurdle favourite Hermes Allen has been given an entry by Paul Nicholls, but it's unlikely the Ditcheat star will step up to three miles for this event, while Deep Cave and Letsbeclearaboutit add more depth to what could be an extremely difficult punting assignment on Cheltenham Gold Cup day.