Cheltenham 13th Dec 2025,Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 15.00 UK Time:
The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle over three miles at Cheltenham on this good to soft ground shapes as a fascinating test of staying power for these unexposed sorts, with the New Course’s uphill finish sure to stretch them.
The field lacks depth in terms of proven graded form, so recent fluency over hurdles and stamina hints from points or bumpers will count for plenty, alongside adaptability to conditions that could quicken up later.
Conman John, for Lucinda Scudamore and Derek Fox, has quickly established himself as a top staying prospect with back-to-back hurdle wins, most notably asserting with authority over this very course and distance in a Grade 2 here just seven weeks ago on good ground, where he dictated and pulled clear in testing conditions.
That followed a narrow debut success at Kelso over three miles on good in early October, confirming his wellbeing post-point victory last winter.
He has yet to race on good to soft but handled similar testing finishes well at Cheltenham, and his bold-jumping style suggests the surface will hold no fears, while his class edge in this company looks decisive after such a sharp reintroduction to rules.
They Call Me Hugo represents Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen, and he made a taking start to hurdling when powering home by over two lengths at Ffos Las last month over two and a half on soft, travelling easily before quickening in the straight to mark himself out as one to improve.
That built on a point success in February and a close second the prior December, both over three miles on testing ground, underlining his stamina pedigree.
Unraced at Cheltenham and stepping up markedly in grade and trip today, the good to soft could suit based on that Ffos Las effort, though he will need to raise his game considerably against more battle-hardened rivals, with fitness not in question after such a recent outing.
Reckless Spending, from the Nicky Henderson yard with Nico de Boinville riding, showed plenty of promise when third of four in a strong maiden at Ascot three weeks ago over two and a half on good, closing from off the pace in a race that has thrown up subsequent winners.
He had shaped similarly with a staying-on third in a bumper back in May, and his point second last October over three miles on good to soft hints at further progress now tackling this longer distance for the first time.
No prior experience of Cheltenham, but the track’s demands should play to his grinding style, and the ground looks ideal from his Ascot run, arriving in peak shape for a yard that knows how to ready these types for big days.
Carlenrig, prepared by Dan Skelton with Harry Skelton up, impressed on his hurdles debut when going down by just three lengths to an odds-on rival at Chepstow earlier this month over two and a half on good to soft, jumping fluently and staying on purposefully under pressure.
That came after a dominant point win last December over three miles on soft, where he scored by fifteen lengths, suggesting the extra distance here will unlock more from this lightly raced individual.
New to the yard and unraced at Cheltenham, but his fluent jumping and evident fitness post-quick turnaround make him one to consider, with the conditions bang on for what he has shown so far.
Kasino Des Mottes, for Joe Tizzard and Brendan Powell, bounced back from a tough debut when making a successful start to handicapping with a determined one-length verdict at Kempton a fortnight ago over two and a half on good, battling on gamely after racing prominently.
Prior to that, he had filled fifth over this course and distance in the same Grade 2 won by Conman John back in late October on good, beaten under twenty lengths but shaping with some promise despite greenness.
A point winner in Ireland over three miles on heavy in March, he clearly stays well, and while the good to soft represents new territory, his recent sharpness suggests he arrives in good order, though reversing form with the selection looks a tall order.
Big Cadillac brings Dan Skelton and Ciaran Gethings into the mix, but he needs to leave his hurdles bow well behind after a disappointing sixth of ten in a maiden at Ffos Las six weeks ago over two and a half on soft, where he weakened quickly having shown early speed.
That followed a point win over three miles on heavy last February and a bumper success at Chepstow in January over two miles on heavy, indicating he stays further and handles give.
Unexposed at this level and with the step up in trip a potential plus, the good to soft should be fine, but his jumping lacked fluency last time, and fitness is the unknown after that setback.
Intosomethinggood, under Nigel Twiston-Davies and Sam Twiston-Davies, arrives on the back of a subdued eighth in a Grade 2 here over two and a half on soft just four weeks ago, beaten a long way having travelled reasonably before fading badly.
He had gone close when second at Carlisle prior to that over two and a half on soft, and boasts three hurdle wins from eight starts, including a ready success at Bangor in September over two miles on good.
Experienced in the grand scheme but now trying three miles for the first time, the course form is a plus overall, though that latest effort raises serious doubts about his current wellbeing on this ground.
Simulation Results:
Conman John 44.9%, They Call Me Hugo 19.8%, Reckless Spending 15.1%, Carlenrig 10.0%, Kasino Des Mottes 5.0%, Big Cadillac 3.0%, Intosomethinggood 2.2%.
Equivalent fair fractional odds derived from these probabilities: Conman John 5/4, They Call Me Hugo 4/1, Reckless Spending 11/2, Carlenrig 9/1, Kasino Des Mottes 19/1, Big Cadillac 33/1, Intosomethinggood 40/1.
The best bet is Conman John, whose course mastery and proven stamina at this level set him apart.
For two value selections, Conman John at 11/8 live trumps his 5/4 fair price for clear upside.
Steamer bets spotlight Kasino Des Mottes, shortened from 12/1 early to 8/1 live by exactly four points on the back of his gritty Kempton reversal, though no second contender clears the threshold among those with viable chances.
