Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle 2025 - French raider appeals at this early stage
The 2025 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle promises thrilling competition with potential surprises. The race, often known for shock results, highlights horses like The Yellow Clay and Final Demand, although their participation may be uncertain. Jet Blue, trained by David Cottin, is drawing attention with solid performances in France and England. His current odds provide a favorable opportunity before field confirmations. The race also includes contenders like The Big Westerner, Jasmin De Vaux, and other promising entries poised to challenge for victory in this prestigious novice hurdle.
- Free guide to the 2025 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
- This race will take place on day four of the Cheltenham Festival on Friday 14th March
- Jet Blue features in our verdict
The traditional warm-up act for the Gold Cup is the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, a Grade One for novice hurdlers run over three miles. While this race has thrown up plenty of future stars of the sport, it's also renowned for shock results, with two 18/1 shots, two 33/1 pokes and even a 50/1 outsider winning in recent years.
Here's our free guide to the 2025 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, featuring the latest odds, expert analysis and our best betting tips.
*Note - Best bets won't be finalised until the field has been confirmed*
2025 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Odds
| Name | Odds |
|---|---|
| The Yellow Clay | 9/2 |
| Final Demand | 6/1 |
| The Big Westerner | 13/2 |
| Jasmin De Vaux | 12/1 |
| Jet Blue | 16/1 |
| Wingmen | 16/1 |
| Wendigo | 16/1 |
| Bar | 20/1 |
2025 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Runners
The Yellow Clay and Final Demand head the betting for this Grade One, but both look nailed on to run in the Turners' Novices' Hurdle on day two. When they come out, The Big Westerner and Jasmin De Vaux will likely head the market.
The Big Westerner is unbeaten in three starts thus far, and saw out three miles strongly when scoring in the Grade Two at Limerick over Christmas. Jasmin De Vaux won the Champion Bumper last season, but his jumping has been fairly poor since switching to hurdles and returns to Cheltenham on the back of a distant fourth-place finish in the Nathaniel Lacy.
Wingmen was a 12-length runner-up to Final Demand that day, finishing five-and-a-half lengths clear of Jasmin De Vaux. Sounds Victorious, a 22-length fifth in the Nathaniel Lacy, could also run here. However, my head is telling me that that wasn't the deepest Grade One and I'm not sure the form will stand up.
Ballybow jumped into Albert Bartlett contention when winning a Grade Three at Clonmel earlier this month and could be the best of Gordon Elliott's bunch. Flicker Of Hope has taken the handicap route to this Grade One and Mark Fahey's six-year-old could play a hand. As could John McConnell's Intense Approach, who has been beating up modest fields in England for much of the season.
France's big hope is Jet Blue, who powered to an impressive victory in the Bristol Novices' Hurdle in December. 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, edging out Moon Rocket in a thrilling finish.
Wendigo came through late to place second behind The New Lion in the Challow Hurdle, and steps up in trip following an easy victory on his prep-run at Wetherby. Derryhassen Paddy has won a point-to-point, a bumper and both of his starts over hurdles, having battled back bravely to fend off Honky Tonk Highway during the Winter Millions Meeting.
Willie Mullins has many other Cheltenham Festival entries, including last-time-out winners Fishery Lane, Port Joulain and Argento Boy. Jax Junior and Ma Shantou could further bolster the home challenge. Jacob's Ladder, Billy Joyce, Bleu De Vassy and First Confession could also feature in the final field.
2025 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Tips
If you take The Yellow Clay and Final Demand out of the equation, this year's crop of staying novice hurdlers looks fairly weak in both Britain and Ireland. The one that stands out to me at this stage is the French horse, JET BLUE (16/1), who ticks plenty of boxes for the Albert Bartlett.
David Cottin's six-year-old has stacks of experience, having run in ten AQPS flat races. Jet Blue 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. James Reveley's mount was then narrowly beaten under a penalty in November, before making his first trip to Cheltenham for the Bristol Novices' Hurdle.
Reveley's mount was much the best in that Grade Two. Jet Blue wasn't particularly fluent in the jumping department, but the way he travelled throughout was impressive and I liked the way he recovered from a sloppy jump at the last to put further distance between himself and the chasing pack.
Yellow Car has boosted that form with a Grade Two victory of his own since and Cottin has had a couple of months to work on Jet Blue's jumping. When the top two in the betting are removed, then Jet Blue will get cut into single figures, so I'm keen to take 16/1 while it lasts.
Verdict
I usually back two at lengthy prices in the Albert Bartlett, as it's a race that often throws up an upset. However, Jet Blue stands out to me at the ante-post stage, so I'm keen to get David Cottin's French raider on-side before the field is confirmed.
Jet Blue
2025 Albert Bartlett
@16/1 - 5 Units
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