Inside track as the best staying novices clash in the Albert Bartlett

2.50 CheltenhamAlbert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m7f213y | 4yo+ | ITV

How good is Birchdale?

The Nicky Henderson-trained Birchdale heads the betting and is unbeaten in two starts under rules – winning by a combined 22 lengths.

On the one hand that is slightly misleading as Brewin'upastorm was upsides and challenging when falling at the last on trials day. Barry Geraghty felt he had the favourite covered, and the upside is that Brewin'upastorm ran a blinder when fourth behind City Island in the Ballymore to boost the form.

It is probably the single strongest individual piece of form in the race and Birchdale is clearly a talented horse, but, like stablemate Dickie Diver, inexperience is the big question mark.

Henderson said: "Birchdale and Dickie Diver both have big futures and are chasers in the making. Birchdale has always shown us a lot of natural talent and a very good temperament, so I think he'll suit the race.

"He was still very green at Cheltenham when he won the Ballymore trial and will have learned a lot that day.

"Dickie Diver has been to Chepstow twice, so if the ground is still soft he's not going to mind. He just got touched off by Lisnagar Oscar, which looks like very good form, and won very easily next time. I think he's a likely candidate."

Key numbers

Experience appears vital in the Albert Bartlett. The last ten winners had run: 4, 13, 3, 3, 6, 4, 7, 15, 7 and 4 times over hurdles. Birchdale and Dickie Diver have run only twice over hurdles, as have Allaho and Minella Indo.

Is Lisnagar Oscar the real deal?

Lisnagar Oscar has four runs over hurdles to his name, winning the last two. He beat Dickie Diver by just a head at Chepstow over nearly two and a half miles, and relished the extra distance when slamming the reopposing Ask Ben and Stoney Mountain by ten and 14 lengths in the Grade 2 Haydock trial won by Brindisi Breeze en route to taking this in 2012.

The following year Rebecca Curtis won this with At Fishers Cross, her second winning favourite at the festival. She has yet to saddle a market leader at the meeting to meet with defeat, which is worth noting given Lisnagar Oscar could be supported into favouritism.

Curtis said: "He's in really good form at home and he's come out of his Haydock win well. I'm not worried about the ground, he seems to go on anything, so we're hopeful."

How strong is the Irish challenge?

There is real depth to the Irish challenge, which perhaps should not be a surprise given soft ground-loving stayers are the backbone of the nation's jumps scene.

The Gordon Elliott-trained pair of Commander Of Fleet and Dinons, Philip Dempsey's experienced strong stayer Derrinross, the Willie Mullins-trained Allaho and Joseph O'Brien's Rhinestone were all 14-1 or shorter on Thursday, and for all this race lacks an already proven superstar it is surely the most evenly-matched and open Grade 1 of the week.

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Allaho, Dorrells Pierji and Salsaretta
We threw Allaho in at the deep end on his first hurdles start for us at Clonmel last month when he won a Grade 3 over 3m in good style. We’re looking forward to a big run from him. Salsaretta unseated at the second in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last time but her win at Limerick at Christmas was a good effort. She’s trying a new trip but we think she’ll stay and we’re hopeful of a big run. Dorrells Pierji has been disappointing on his last two runs but he should have an outside chance on his early-season form and the trip and ground will suit.

Graeme McPherson, trainer of Ask Ben
I think he has a shout and he's some good form in the book. We're a small yard and if he was with Willie Mullins or Nicky Henderson he wouldn't be 28-1. He was behind the favourite last time and we were giving him 10lb. The more rain the better. If it's a soft-ground race he should be in the first six, and hopefully the places.

Fergal O'Brien, trainer of Aye Aye Charlie
He was sixth in the Cleeve and hopefully that's good enough for him to run into a place.

Noel Meade, trainer of Cap York and First Approach
We switched Cap York from the Pertemps because he has plenty experience and this race seems to suit a horse like that. He seems to be improving so should have a chance. I'm hoping softer ground will help First Approach. He's been a bit disappointing so I'm just hoping it might have been the drier ground. I've been very happy with his work and if the ground does help him he wouldn't have to improve much on his best form to run well.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Commander Of Fleet and Dinons
I’m hoping for a big run from Commander Of Fleet. The extra couple of furlongs shouldn’t be a problem. Even though he's already won two good races he's a raw type of horse, a work in progress, and I’m hoping he has enough experience for a race like this, which is a fair test of a young horse. I’ve no doubt he’s got the ability to play a leading role. Dinons had a great autumn and was going to run very well last time, only to be badly hampered at the third-last. After that it was always the plan to give him a break and head here. That he has winning course form is a positive and he’s a lovely, staying type who should be well suited by this test.

Colin Tizzard, trainer of Darlac and Rockpoint
In the autumn they both looked like Albert Bartlett horses. The good thing about both is they were staying on strongly at Haydock last time after getting outpaced, and they’ll be staying on again here.

Ben Pauling, trainer of Nadaitak
He gallops well – he could go on forever – so in that sense he'll suit the race, but I'm just hoping he'll handle the track. So far he's done all his racing on flat tracks and he's a big, cumbersome horse off the Flat. If he handles it he should run well, and he'll gallop all the way to the line.

Rhinestone (right): faces Commander Of Fleet again at CheltenhamCredit: Patrick McCann

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Rhinestone
He's in really good shape and I think the three-mile trip will definitely suit. He's been progressing nicely over hurdles and I don't see the ground being a problem.

Henry Daly, trainer of Stoney Mountain
He'll get three miles no bother and the ground won't inconvenience him. It was good ground at Haydock and they just went too fast for him.

Alan King, trainer of Alsa Mix
Alsa Mix steps up to three miles and should stay as she’s a point-to-point winner. She’s had a decent break since her run behind Champ in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury, was a Graded winner at Sandown earlier in the season, and won’t mind the ground.

Spotlight verdict

With experience – and lots of it – historically worth its weight in gold in this event, this might be a culture shock for Birchdale, Dickie Diver and Allaho, all lightly raced and ultimately easy winners of their prep races. Commander Of Fleet will have learned a lot at Leopardstown and is feared, along with Lisnagar Oscar and the mare Salsaretta. Of stronger interest, though, is the slow-burning 8yo Derrinross, who has shown an abundance of stamina to win both his 3m starts (Graded events to boot) and whose evident never-say-die attitude is a big selling point.

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