Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle Predictions, Betting Tips & Odds (Cheltenham 2025 - DAY 4)
- Written by Simon Bettarini
Previously known as the Brit Insurance Novices Hurdle this race was introduced to the festival in 2005 and is a three mile hurdle race for novices. The AB Novices Hurdle is open to 4 year old and older novice hurdlers. Gordon Elliott's Stellar Story was an emphatic winner of the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle last year, at odds of 33/1. Read below a complete Cheltenham 2025 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle race preview, with free predictions, free bets, no deposit bonuses, odds, recent trends and special promotions.
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AB NOVICES HURDLE BETTING PREVIEW
One of three Grade 1 contests on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival is the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. It's a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race, run over a distance of about three miles, for horses aged four years and upwards. This makes the race the starting platform for many young horses, who go on to have great racing careers at a high level.
Despite being one of the newest races at the festival this event has already provided us with high class winners, thrilling finishes and more. The AB Novices' Hurdle is where we will see future Gold Cup and future Stayers Hurdle horses.
And now we take a closer look at this year's Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle and try to determine which horse is likely to prevail in this race.
Who will win the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle 2025?
Henry de Bromhead’s THE BIG WESTERNER made an eye-catching hurdles debut at Punchestown, followed by an authoritative win in the Grade 2 Lyons of Limerick a month later. She ticks many boxes and is heavy backed in the betting.
JET BLUE destroyed his British rivals when scoring in the Bristol Novices' Hurdle over C&D at Cheltenham in December. Prior to that, he finished a very close third in the Grade One Prix de Craon in September, before claiming his first victory over hurdles at Auteuil the following month.
WINGMEN was a 12-length runner-up to Final Demand in the Nathaniel Lacy, but finished five-and-a-half lengths clear of Jasmin De Vaux.
JASMIN DE VAUX started well over hurdles at Navan but has struggled with his jumping in two outings in his following two outings. The 2024 Champion Bumper may enjoy having more time at his obstacles over this trip and looks a serious contender.
Wille Mullins’ SOUNDS VICTORIUS ran well in a Champion Bumper last year that was a test of stamina. Anyway he was a little disappointing last time out behind Final Demand at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Challow Hurdle runner-up WENDIGO is another contender. He booked his Albert Bartlett berth with victory at odds of 1-11 in the betting at Wetherby. Prior to that he won four of his seven starts for Jamie Snowden and, as above mentioned, finished second in the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle to the The New Lion.
Lucinda Russell's DERRYHASSEN PADDY won a point-to-point in December 2023 and then won a bumper last season. He secured victory in the Berkshire Winter Million Stakes at Windsor, just doing enough to maintain his unbeaten record.
Dark Horses?
BALLYBOW, a £110,000 purchase by Gigginstown House Stud, was last seen in the Grade Three Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at Thurles, where he justified his short odds with a half-length defeat of Ballygunner Castle.
FISHERY LANE stayed on to finish 5th in last year's Champion Bumper and has improved as he has stepped up in trip. His jumping cost him first time out at Fairyhouse, but he improved in that regard when landing over 2m4f at that track earlier this year.
ARGENTO BOY was sent off 11/10F on hurdles debut at Punchestown in November and travelled keenly along the rail in behind The Big Westerner, finishing a length behind his rival at the line. He bounced back at Punchestown on early February with an impressive run.
JAX JUNIOR has won his last two novice hurdles starts by a combined distance of 27 lengths while YELLOW CAR finished a nine-length third that day and boosted the form with a Grade Two victory of his own in the River Don.
FLICKER OF HOPE, INTENSE APPROACH, MA SHANTOU and PORT JOULAIN are other potential surprise packages.
Latest Odds
The section below contains the most backed entries at the moment:
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ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICE HURDLE TRENDS
- No favourites have won in the last 11 years
- 11 of the last 12 winners were sent off at double figure odds
- 17 of the last 20 winners won or placed in a Graded Novice before
- 10 of the last 16 winners had won at least twice over hurdles
- 15 of the last 20 winners finished 1st or 2nd last time out
- 11 of the last 15 winners were rated 140+
- 17 of the last 19 winners were aged 6 or 7 years-old
ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES HURDLE PREDICTIONS
Check out below our expert picks on the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle 2025. Feel free to copy our Cheltenham Festival free betting tips and get the highest prices available on the market by clicking the 'Bet' button! Plus, we suggest you to visit our Enhanced Odds section to claim boosted prices.
Ruby Walsh's Tips
"The one I like though is Jasmin De Vaux. I can’t guarantee he’s going to run in the Albert Bartlett but it will be the easiest race to ride him in.There’s three hurdles early in the back straight that you can just pop over. At the top of the hill you have the third last and you’d need to jump it pretty well before the long run to the second last. There’s loads of time between the hurdles where you could slow Jasmin De Vaux down, to just get him from A to B. Don’t forget, he had the class to win the Cheltenham Bumper last year.
I like him as a non runner no bet option."
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2025 AB NOVICES HURDLE FAQs
What time is the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle?
The Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle is the 4th race run on Day 4 of the Cheltenham Festival. That falls on Friday March 14, 2025 and the official starting time is 3:20pm.
How many obstacles are jumped in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle?
There are 12 obstacles to jump for the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle runners
What is the distance of the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle?
The Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle is run on a distance of 2 miles 7 furlongs 213 yards
What is the prize money for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle?
The total prize money on offer for the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival will be £150,000.
Who won the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle last year?
Last year's renewal was won by Stellar Story at SP of 33/1, trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Sam Ewing.
What weights are carried for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle?
11st 5lb, with a 7lb allowance for fillies and mares.
Who is the leading jockey in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle?
A.P. McCoy has ridden three winners in the race. Paul Townend and Harry Cobden are the only current jockeys to have won the Albert Bartlett more than once.
Who is the leading trainer in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle?
Willie Mullins has trained three winners in the last 8 years, while Jonjo O’Neill is the other multiple winner with two wins. Nicky Henderson has struck once, as has Colin Tizzard, Gavin Cromwell, Paul Nicholls, Henry De Bromhead Gordon Elliott and Harry Fry in recent years.
