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The Final Novice Grade 1 race over hurdles for the week is the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle which is over 3m.
Over the years this race has been a bookies paradise with double-figure priced winners winning it eight of the last ten years, with only one favourite winning it in 2013.
Cheltenham 2:50 – Favori De Champdou 10/1 & Dawn Rising 20/1 (1pt ew singles)
I can see why Corbetts Cross is the favourite for this. He seems to have a mixture of pace and stamina, which is a great combination. He has won over 2m and 3m, with his best win coming 19 days ago over 2m in a Grade 2. That recorded an RPR of 152, and as a result, JP McManus decided to buy him. Emmet Mullins trains this horse, so was always going to be short-priced, though I think he has a great chance I'll take my bet elsewhere, especially at 3/1.
Three Card Brag is meant to be a relentless galloper and connections over for this race over the 2m 4f Grade 1 earlier in the festival. I think they've chosen the right race as he does look slow and will stay this race. However, based on what we've seen does he warrant to be the second favourite? maybe, as he has Graded form and will be better over the trip, but I think he is on the short side of things in the market, and though the buzz around him suggests he has a great chance I think you can find better value.
I think Embassy Gardens could be a big player in this. He was impressive last time out in an egg and spoon race, but he was firmly put in his place by Good Land over 2m 4f, that horse has since won a Grade 1 and ran well behind Impaire Et Passe 2 days ago. This trip will be better for him and he handles conditions really nicely. He won the race that Monkfish won before coming and landing this race a few years ago, so they must think highly of him to go for a similar route.
My first fancy for this race is Favori De Champdou who won a Grade 2 last time out on heavy ground, and looked like a good strong stayer at this trip. The form of the race looks decent with the horse in runner-up winning a maiden, but recorded an RPR of 147 in the process, so is a nice horse for the future. He is 3/3 over hurdles and the race he won had previously been won by the likes of Fury Road who finished 3rd in this race in 2019, Penhill a previous winner of this race and Faugheen. This horse produced the joint highest RPR of this race in the last ten years with Faugheen, so it rates as a good run in my eyes.
My second fancy is Dawn Rising and he is being overlooked in the market for some reason, which I'm not quite sure about. I think he is crying out for this trip over 3m on soft ground. He has won a Grade 3 on soft beating American Mike, not great form I know, but the manner in which he won was eye-catching, he was 10L behind the front two jumping two from home, but his stamina kicked in and somehow won by 8L. He was then tried in a Grade 1 and finished 3rd over 2m 4f behind Champ Kiely. That form looks decent with the winner finishing 3rd behind Impaire Et Passe, and Dawn Rising was staying on again in that race too. He was 102 rated on the flat when trained by Aidan O'Brien, so clearly has tonnes of ability and I think he has the engine to get involved.
Henry De Bromhead won this race with Minella Indo a few years ago so his runner, Monty's Star needs to be respected for the same owners. He looks like a nice horse, as does Hiddenvalley Lake who are closely matched on form. Both could run well and can't be ignored.
