Punting pointers for an Albert Bartlett trial with impressive roll of honour

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Registered As The Bristol Novices' Hurdle) | Grade 2 | 4yo+ | 2m7f213y New Course | ITV4/RUK

Tizzard seeks next Kilbricken Storm

In the last decade the winners of this race have gone on to shine over both hurdles and fences, with Coneygree, Blaklion and Unowhatimeanharry all featuring on the recent roll of honour.

Last season Kilbricken Storm collected this prize before doubling up in the same sponsor's Grade 1 championship for staying novices at the festival in March and his trainer Colin Tizzard fields Rockpoint and Lough Derg Diamond in a bid to follow up.

Rockpoint is a second season novice and, having shown good form without winning over shorter trips last term, got to within half a length of Vive Le Roi when stepped up to three miles at Newbury last time out.

"He’s a thorough stayer, being a half-brother to Santini, but I only really worked that out on his last run," said Tizzard. "He's a horse in form and he stays well so he's one to watch. When they start improving you don't know where it's going to stop."

Lough Derg Diamond has plenty to do with the principals on ratings but Tizzard is keen to see how he handles Cheltenham on what will only be his third start under rules, the previous two having been at around two miles.

"He's probably a handicapper down the line but the owners live locally so we decided to come here rather than Plumpton on Monday," said Tizzard. "I think he’ll improve up in trip as he’s closely related to Joe Lively."

Pretender on a hat-trick bid for Henderson

In common with Rockpoint, Doux Pretender did not shed his maiden status in three runs for Nicky Henderson last winter but has since made up for such developmental delays, winning at Towcester in May before returning to action with a gutsy defeat of Stoney Mountain over 2m5½f at Ascot last month.

The margin that day was a head although Doux Pretender would have been value for more had he not hung across the track, ending up by the stands' rail.

Henderson said: "He has done nothing wrong and he was good at Ascot but he is now moving up in class."

Supremely Lucky is another to head here off the back of a win, having sluiced up at Southwell on his first try at three miles since joining Dan Skelton from the point-to-point field.

O'Brien Aye's new success for Charlie

Aye Aye Charlie and Paddy Brennan on their way to success at Kelso last monthCredit: Grossick Racing 07710461723

Aye Aye Charlie is yet another who failed to visit the winner's enclosure last season, despite putting in some fine efforts at Graded level behind horses such as Santini, Samcro and Black Op.

Having been narrowly denied by Stoney Mountain at Aintree on his reappearance – form that ties him closely to Doux Pretender – Aye Aye Charlie made no mistake at odds of 1-12 at Kelso last time over what was his stiffest stamina test to date.

Trainer Fergal O'Brien said: "It was nice for him to get his head in front. I was disappointed when he was second at Aintree but the Henry Daly horse that beat him came out and was second in a nice race at Ascot so the form has stacked up.

"Two mile seven round here at a good clip should suit him. He's not ungenuine, he just likes to have a little look round. I'm hopeful we might get that bit of rain they're promising from around midday because his best form is on soft or heavy."

What they say

Rebecca Curtis, trainer of Lisnagar Oscar
I think he should be better over a trip. He just gallops and he ran a good race at Ffos Las when the ground was awful, which he wasn’t in love with. Hopefully on a bit better ground he should go well.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Rocco
This is probably a bit more than he can chew and I was hoping the race would cut up a bit more than it has done, but it's worth a go.

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