Racecards
14:30 Cheltenham
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Bristol Novices' Hurdle) (Class 1)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 7f 213y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £32,000 added
- Winner: £18,224
- 2nd: £6,838
- 3rd: £3,424
- 4th: £1,706
- Form 2D36-12
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
held up in rear, headway on outside before 2 out, led last, ridden and headed flat, stayed on
- Form 671P0-1
- Age 10
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey James Bowen
chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, beaten after 2 out, well held when hung right after last
Igor
22- Form 27-21
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Mr Sam Waley-Cohen
mid-division, effort on inside when not fluent 2 out, beaten home bend, hampered after last
- Form 2/221
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer Jamie Snowden
- Jockey Adrian Heskin
chased leaders, went 2nd after 3rd racing keenly, led after 5th, headed after 7th, led 9th, hit 2 out, headed before last, stayed on same pace
- Form F1-11
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
chased leader until after 3rd, stayed handy, ridden after 2 out, one pace before last
Redford Road
21- Form 2-112
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Jamie Bargary
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, soon pushed along, led before last, soon headed, led again flat, stayed on, edged left towards finish
- Form 453146-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Mr D Maxwell
held up, pulled hard, headway after 5th, ridden and beaten home bend, not much room after last
- Form 35/1-1
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
led, clear briefly early, headed after 5th, led after 7th, not fluent and headed 9th, lost place before 2 out, pulled up before last
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Useful staying chaser Valtor held off Wetherby winner Redford Road over a slightly shorter trip at Ascot, despite hanging in the closing stages. But the boot is on the other foot here as the 10-year-old now has to give 3lb to his old rival having received 5lb in their first meeting. The latter’s yard also run the improving Mossy Fen in this Grade 2 while the Henderson team double up with Ascot maiden winner Igor. CHAMPAGNE WELL (NAP) has yet to run a bad race over hurdles and sets a high standard. Though he failed to win last season that could be a blessing in disguise as he now looks more the finished article and there was no disgrace in his latest second here to the smart Thyme Hill.
Formwatch
Champagne Well (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Held up on outside, headway after 3 out (usual 4 out), driven to chase leaders after next, soon ridden, went 2nd and kept on after last, no impression with winner final 150 yards, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Thyme Hill (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Nov.
Valtor (FR) 10-11fav (10-12) Chased leaders, led before 2 out, hung right after last, hard ridden, stayed on well, won at Ascot 2m 6f (2) sft in Nov beating Redford Road (11-3) by 2l, 5 ran.
Igor 5-1 (11-0) Led 2nd, made rest, ridden out, won at Ascot 2m 3f mdn (3) sft in Nov beating Papa Tango Charly (11-0) by 7l, 14 ran.
Kiltealy Briggs (IRE) Evensfav (10-12) Tracked leaders, chased leader 6th, led by omitted 2 out, soon clear, comfortable(last hurdle in back straight omitted on both circuits), won at Hexham 2m 4f (4) hvy in Nov beating Itsnotyouitsme (10-12) by 36l, 8 ran.
Mossy Fen (IRE) 5-4fav (11-4) Made all, shaken up before 2 out, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Aintree 2m 4f (4) sft in Nov beating Keep Wondering (10-12) by 3 3/4l, 6 ran.
Redford Road 9-2 (11-3) Held up in touch, headway approaching 2 out, every chance last, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Valtor (10-12) at Ascot 2m 6f (2) sft in Nov.
Saint Xavier (FR) (10-10) 6th of 9, 30l behind Srelighonn (10-7) at Auteuil 2m 6f sft in Nov.
The Mulcair (IRE) 2-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 1st, led 3rd, went clear approaching 2 out, ridden before the last, kept up to work run-in, won at Southwell 3m (4) hvy in Nov beating Jepeck (11-9) by 11l, 5 ran.