Albert Bartlett analysis: who is the value in race renowned for shock winners?

2.50 Cheltenham
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) | 3m | 4yo+ | New course | ITV/RTV

The first thing to say is that this race has been one of the most difficult for punters in recent years with the last six winners all sent off a double-figure price, the last two at 50-1 and 33-1 (the third at such odds in the last ten seasons). With bookies going around 9-2 the field you wouldn’t rule out another surprise result.

Trainer trends aren’t much help, either, with a different name on the role of honour in each of the last 12 years, split evenly between British and Irish. Neither are ratings, with 12lb covering the top 13 runners. I think competitive is the word to describe it, as it should be.

Last year’s Champion Bumper third Thyme Hill has been an uneasy favourite, which is understandable as you tend to need a runner with proven stamina in what can be a dour test. While he’s stayed on well in making it three from three over hurdles, he has yet to race beyond 2m5f.

Latest Exhibition, the other Grade 1 winner in the field, has shown a bit more on the stamina front, but also a bit less aptitude for hurdling. If he gets it right in the jumping department, he should go close. And if he goes close, you shouldn’t rule out a big run from the lightly raced Cobbler’s Way, who finished second to him last time, again rallying like a horse who will be in his element if this turns into a slog.

Ramses De Teillee: in his element when conditions are testingCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

That last comment also applies to Ramses De Teillee, although softer ground would have been more suitable and he also has another crack at the Grand National on the horizon.

Not only do Willie Mullins’ trio step up sharply in class, two of them do so in trip too. The yard’s first string Monkfish has been winning well but he surely owes his lofty position in the market to connections.

Colin Tizzard’s hat-trick seeking pair have also impressed in victory, although they, too, have something to prove up in trip.

Redford Road could be the pick of the outsiders. He showed stamina in abundance when winning the trial for this race in December and it’s not difficult to forgive a disappointing run next time when he was asked to force the pace back in trip. Those tactics will be shelved here, in a field containing confirmed front-runners.
Analysis by Pietro Innocenzi

Gold Cup hero Bryan Cooper looking for a big finish to the week with Exhibition

It has been a quiet week for Bryan Cooper but the Gold Cup-winning rider is hoping to end it on a high with leading Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle hope Latest Exhibition.

Two rides on Tuesday, including a third-place finish in the Ultima on Discorama, and a further two rides on Thursday have kept him in the Cheltenham groove, although it is not hard to argue a rider of his undoubted talent and experience has been somewhat underutilised.

Among a long list of big-race wins to his name, Cooper, 27, has enjoyed eight successes at the Cheltenham Festival, the last coming in the colours of his former employers Gigginstown House Stud in the 2017 Plate on Road To Respect, the same year he landed the Mares' Hurdle on Apple's Jade.

However, for the man who partnered Don Cossack to victory in the 2016 Gold Cup, recent years have been far leaner and interspersed with some torrid injuries but Cooper is not a man wishing to dwell on the past and, thanks in no small part to a burgeoning relationship with Latest Exhibition's trainer Paul Nolan, is looking only to the future.

Bryan Cooper: has struck up a partnership with trainer Paul NolanCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"Discorama ran a cracker on Tuesday and I'm looking forward to Latest Exhibition now," says Cooper. "I wouldn't swap him for anything at the moment and hopefully things go right for him."

Latest Exhibition certainly appears to be the leading candidate from Ireland in what is often a stern test for inexperienced horses, having won three of his four races this season and hitting the line strong to land a first Grade 1 under Cooper at Leopardstown last month.

The rider says: "It can be a funny race and throw up funny results but my lad has done everything right. He's tough and he stays and I'd like to think he ticks all the boxes.

"It was over two miles six at Leopardstown and this race is over three miles and I think that is going to suit him. It's great for the lads in the yard to have a horse like him and we're all looking forward to it."

While Cooper is chasing his ninth festival success, victory for Latest Exhibition would give Nolan a third victory at the biggest jumps meeting of all having landed the Marsh with Noble Prince in 2011 and the Boodles with Dabiroun in 2005.
Lewis Porteous

What they say

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Cat Tiger
He’s a good horse and he’s been well placed and won a few nice races. He’s got a bit to do, but he’ll get the trip and he’ll give David [Maxwell, owner/rider] a good ride.

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Cobbler's Way
He's come out of Leopardstown in good form and we're hoping for the best.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Fury Road
Possibly he found the ground on the lively side last time at Leopardstown. That said, I didn't think he performed badly at all. The trip will be no problem to him, nor will the ground, and to be honest we could not be any happier with him.

Harry Senior: looks a genuine stayer in the making for Colin TizzardCredit: Edward Whitaker

Colin Tizzard, trainer of Harry Senior and Lieutenant Rocco
I thought at the start of the week my best chance was Harry Senior. He's got form on the course, has had plenty of races this season and is race hardened. Every time we go up in trip he gets better and looks a thorough stayer. He probably has to raise his game but that's possible. Lieutenant Rocco surprised us first time but then followed it up. We've been pleasantly surprised with him all season and he's a big, strong horse but does need to raise his game again.

Paul Webber, trainer of House Island
He's progressed nicely this season and he's a big price considering he ran well when giving weight to Harry Senior at Cheltenham last time. The step up in trip will help and he's versatile regarding ground.

Jamie Snowden, trainer of Kiltealy Briggs
He's a lovely horse. We wanted to go for the EBF final at Sandown but that was off and it's been rearranged to Kempton which wouldn't suit him. His handicap mark suggests he's up against it but we think he's better than that and would be delighted if he finished in the top six.

Paul Nolan, trainer of Latest Exhibition
The ground is very, very gluey and I’m just hoping he’ll handle it. You can’t say the Irish novice hurdle form isn’t up to it judging by how far the front three pulled clear of the rest of the field in the Ballymore on Wednesday. You’d have to say our lad has some of the best staying novice hurdle form and we’re just hoping he runs his race again.

Paul Townend, rider of Monkfish
He is going the right way, learning on the job, and has been impressive in winning thus far. I think he can still improve and this race will really suit him. It is a very competitive race but I'm hoping he can be in the shake-up.

Monkfish has impressed the last twice for Willie MullinsCredit: Patrick McCann

David Pipe, trainer of Ramses De Teillee
I'm hopeful he has a good each-way chance. He's done very well this season – we were always going to try and exploit the novice hurdle route but he's surprised us a little. The New course will suit him as it's a galloping track and he'll be fine with the ground and hustle and bustle.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Redford Road
He was a course-and-distance winner in December and I think returning to three miles will be ideal. It's competitive but I give him a good chance.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of The Cashel Man
He hated the ground [described as soft] at Bangor but I just wanted to get a run into him at the time and it didn't really work out. He's bright and fresh at the moment and I do think he's got a good chance. He's a good stayer and the drier the better.

Philip Hobbs, trainer of Thyme Hill
All has gone very well with him since Newbury. It's his first time over three miles but everything suggests it will suit him and I'm very hopeful. With Cheltenham runners you focus on the right race and conditions rather than opposition.

Spotlight verdict

There's a worthy favourite in Thyme Hill, who made the frame in last year's red-hot Champion Bumper. Although it's not always been pretty over hurdles, he's very much a never-say-die grinder who looks just the job for this war of attrition. Latest Exhibition has long been touted as a suitable candidate for this race and advertised his claims no end in beating some of these in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last time, which is the best Irish form on offer. He's feared most, although Sempo is worth a second look with better days ahead of him and, armed with all his experience, former Welsh National runner-up Ramses De Teillee shouldn't be underestimated.
Alistair Jones

For all our exclusive free bet offers and must-have daily promotions for Cheltenham tap the free bets button or go to racingpost.com/freebets