The Nice Guy puts unbeaten record on the line as Albert Bartlett 1-2-3 clash

Wednesday: 5.20 Punchestown
Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) | 3m | 4yo+ | RTV/RTE2

Given the similarities in race conditions, you'd expect the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle to be the biggest pointer to success in this Grade 1 but that is not necessarily the case.

Minella Indo followed up his 50-1 Cheltenham strike by winning here in 2019, but plenty of others have tried and failed since the race was elevated to top-level status in 2012.

2014 Albert Bartlett winner Very Wood could only claim sixth when coming here, No More Heroes, third a year later at Cheltenham, failed to fire when beaten 25 lengths in this contest as a 5-2 shot, while 2017 Albert Bartlett 1-2 Penhill and Monalee were turned over here by Champagne Classic.

The Nice Guy (right): got the better of stablemate Minella Cocooner (left) in last month's Albert Bartlett Novices' HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

In 2018, Kilbricken Storm could only manage third on his first start since winning at the Cheltenham Festival, and last year Vanillier only finished fourth behind Galopin Des Champs.

It isn't exactly inspiring for supporters of The Nice Guy, who extended his unbeaten record to four in the Albert Bartlett when outstaying stablemate Minella Cocooner. It was the performance of a high-class operator who is clearly on an upward curve.

There were no hiding places in that contest and the winner's relatively unexposed profile should give him a good chance of taking that race pretty well. However, history suggests horses who have not been tried over 3m on their last start can often be well served here.

Killultagh Vic (2015), Champagne Classic (2017) and Galopin Des Champs (2021) had all won the Martin Pipe over 2m4½f on their final outing before scoring here, while Morning Assembly (2013) had previously competed over 2m4f at Fairyhouse, and Next Destination was third in the Ballymore over 2m5f.

Journey With Me: stepping up to 3m for the first time over hurdlesCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

It offers encouragement for Journey With Me, who was in the process of fighting it out for a place in the Ballymore before a final-flight fall.

Three Stripe Life, who was challenging for second at the time, boosted the form when making the breakthrough at Grade 1 level earlier this month at Aintree. There's every chance the Robcour-owned six-year-old should improve for stepping up in distance.

Minella Crooner was 3-1 favourite with some firms for the Albert Bartlett before a muscle injury forced him to miss the Cheltenham Festival.

He shaped particularly encouragingly when last seen, finishing second to Minella Cocooner in a Dublin Racing Festival Grade 1 over 2m6f, and he will be well suited by stepping back up to this trip.

Gordon Elliott on Hollow Games: 'This longer trip should suit and I expect him to run well'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Hollow Games didn't appear to have many excuses when third on that occasion but ran creditably enough to fill the same position in the Martin Pipe last month. He is yet to be tried at this distance under rules.

The application of cheekpieces on Albert Bartlett third Bardenstown Lad looks a shrewd move from John McConnell given how well he stayed on, but he has just shy of ten lengths to make up on The Nice Guy from that performance.

Bronn, one of four in the 11-runner field for Willie Mullins, had to be tough when landing a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse last month and is likely to appreciate the decent ground on offer, but he needs to find improvement.

Patrick Mullins: track will play to Minella Cocooner's strengths

Five lengths separated The Nice Guy and Minella Cocooner in the Albert Bartlett, but Patrick Mullins believes Minella Cocooner will be more suited to this course.

Paul Townend sided with the Dublin Racing Festival scorer ahead of three other Willie Mullins-trained candidates in the Cheltenham Festival's longest novice hurdle, but now switches to The Nice Guy.

Patrick Mullins, without a ride in the race but acting as assistant to his father Willie, said: "The Nice Guy had a few problems and started his career as a six-year-old. He wouldn't blow you away at home, we thought it was great to win two bumpers with him, and I'd imagine a lot of trainers wouldn't have even sent him to Cheltenham.

Minella Cocooner: landed the Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing FestivalCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"Willie's approach is that if you're not in you can't win, and every year we tend to get a winner at a big price like him. The Nice Guy was an example of that."

Mullins added: "Sean O'Keeffe gave him a lovely ride there and perhaps Minella Cocooner might be better at Punchestown. There's a smaller field here and this track would suit front runners far more than the new course at Cheltenham.

"It will be interesting to see if the Cheltenham placings are confirmed here. I wouldn't be certain they will."

Minella Crooner 'in good nick' after pre-Cheltenham setback

Gordon Elliott is hoping Minella Crooner can make up for lost time after missing the festival, and expects twice Grade 1-placed Hollow Games to relish stepping up to 3m for the first time.

Both runners are rated 142, 11lb inferior to the standard set by The Nice Guy.

Elliott said: "It was disappointing that Minella Crooner missed Cheltenham but it was just a minor issue and he didn't miss much time, he just ran out of time before Cheltenham.

"He's in good nick and it's good to have him going there to run. Hopefully he runs his race; some of his form from earlier in the season has worked out well.

"Jack [Kennedy] thought he might have won at Leopardstown if he didn't miss the second-last."

On Hollow Games, Elliott added: "He ran well in the Martin Pipe, but couldn't quite get to the winner. This longer trip should suit and I expect him to run well."

What they say

John McConnell, trainer of Bardenstown Lad
He'll love the ground and has had a nice break since Cheltenham. We're trying him in cheekpieces for the first time because he can hit a flat spot. This is probably one of the toughest races of the week. Hopefully he'll run a nice race if the cheekpieces work as we hope.

Bardenstown Lad (near): set to wear cheekpieces for the first time at Punchestown on WednesdayCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Paul Nolan, trainer of Daily Present
He hasn't done anything wrong all season. Off his rating [of 133] maybe we could have looked for a handicap hurdle with him but this is likely to be his final run over hurdles before going chasing next season and we felt we'd have a crack at a Grade 1. We're hoping he'll be able to handle the better ground. He looks to have a lovely attitude and toughed it out well against Bronn last time.

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Journey With Me
He seems in great form and has come out of Cheltenham well. He had been running a nice race in the Ballymore before coming down at the last; he's a lovely horse. It's his first try at this trip and hopefully it will suit him.

Oliver McKiernan, trainer of Meet And Greet
We like him. It's a big step up in trip and we don't know whether he'll stay but we'll find out here so we know for the future. We think good ground will suit him and his form with Flame Bearer over shorter has been boosted since. It looks a tidy race and we'd be delighted if he could pick up some prize money.

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5.55 Punchestown: unmissable insight from connections on a 'red-hot' Punchestown Gold Cup

6.30 Punchestown: Cheltenham hero Facile Vega renews rivalry with American Mike

7.05 Punchestown: 'A revelation over fences' - Ciel De Neige in frame to hand Mullins a winner

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