ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES’ HURDLE

The Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle is the longest novice hurdle run at the Festival.

Introduced in 2005 when a fourth day was added to the schedule and originally sponsored by Brit Insurance, it is registered as the Spa Novices' Hurdle.

Grade 1 | 4yo+ novices | Friday 15.20
3 miles | 12 hurdles | New course
Weight: 10st 7lb (4yo) / 11st 7lb (5yo+) | Allowance: 7lb for fillies & mares
Prize money: £150,000 (2025)

The race has certainly been a stepping stone for future stars, including Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Bobs Worth and Minello Indo.

Additionally, the Stayers' Hurddle winners in 2018, 2019 & 2020 had all competed in this race the year beforehand.

That includes Penhill, who did the double.

ALBERT BARTLETT HURDLE TRENDS

8 of the last 11 winners were Irish trained
Willie Mullins has trained 3 of the last 8 winners
11 of the last 15 winners were rated 140+
17 of the last 19 winners were aged 6 or 7
10 of the last 11 winners were sent off at double figure odds
4/20 favourites won (0 of the last 11)
Updated to include 2024 renewal

At Fishers Cross was the last favourite to oblige in the Albert Bartlett, back in 2013.

Beaten favourites since include Briar Hill (2/1), Black Hercules (5/2), Death Duty (13/8), Santini (11/4), Hillcrest (9/4), Corbetts Cross (9/4) and Readin Tommy Wrong (2/1) last year.

Meanwhile, since 2010 there have been four 33/1 winners, plus the aforementioned Minello Indo at a whopping 50/1.

ALBERT BARTLETT HURDLE 2025 ODDS

LAST 5 WINNERS’ DATA

YEAR
AGE
OFFICIAL RATING
WEIGHT
2024
7
141
11-7
2023
6
136
11-7
2022
7
–
11-8
2021
6
144
11-5
2020
6
152
11-5

PREVIOUS WINNERS

YEAR
WINNER
JOCKEY / TRAINER
SP
2024
Stellar Story
Sam Ewing / Gordon Elliott
33/1
2023
Stay Away Fay
Harry Cobden / Paul Nicholls
18/1
2022
The Nice Guy
Sean O'Keeffe / Willie Mullins
18/1
2021
Vanillier
Mark Walsh / Gavin Cromwell
14/1
2020
Monkfish
Paul Townend / Willie Mullins
5/1
2019
Minella Indo
Rachael Blackmore / Henry De Bromhead
50/1
2018
Kilbricken Storm
Harry Cobden / Colin Tizzard
33/1
2017
Penhill
Paul Townend / Willie Mullins
16/1
2016
Unowhatimeanharry
Noel Fehily / Harry Fry
11/1
2015
Martello Tower
Adrian Heskin / Margaret Mullins
14/1
2014
Very Wood
Paul Carberry / Noel Meade
33/1
2013
At Fishers Cross
Tony McCoy / Rebecca Curtis
11/8f
2012
Brindisi Breeze
Campbell Gillies / Lucinda Russell
7/1
2011
Bobs Worth
Barry Geraghty / Nicky Henderson
15/8f
2010
Berties Dream
Andrew Lynch / Paul John Gilligan
33/1
2009
Weapon's Amnesty
Davy Russell / Charles Byrnes
8/1
2008
Nenuphar Collonges
Robert Thornton / Alan King
9/1
2007
Wichita Lineman
Tony McCoy / Jonjo O'Neill
11/8f
2006
Black Jack Ketchum
Tony McCoy / Jonjo O'Neill
Evensf
2005
Moulin Riche
Robert Thornton / François Doumen
9/1

Stellar Story 2024

Stay Away Fay 2023

The Nice Guy 2022

The 2021 winner was Vanillier, ridden by Mark Walsh for trainer Gavin Cromwell:

‘I’M NOT SURPRISED HE’S WON, BUT I AM SURPRISED BY THE MANNER HE’S DONE IT IN’

Monkfish won a thrilling renewal 'by a nostril' in 2020 for owner Rich Ricci.

Four horses fought it out on the run-in, with the winner rallying having been overtaken:

‘WE BOUGHT HIM AS A GOLD CUP HORSE. FINGERS CROSSED HE STAYS HEALTHY AND HE CAN GROW INTO ONE’

In 2019 Rachael Blackmore became the first female jockey to win a Grade 1 hurdle at the Festival aboard Minello Indo.

Despite being a maiden, trainer Henry de Bromhead was shocked at the odds of his future Gold Cup star:

‘I COULDN’T UNDERSTAND WHY WE WERE 50/1. IT WAS MAD’

Kilbricken Storm was another big-priced winner at 33/1 in 2018 and a first Cheltenham Festival success for jockey Harry Cobden.

Purchased for just £22,000 by trainer Colin Tizzard the year before, he collected a first prize of £77,600:

‘THE BEAUTY OF NATIONAL HUNT RACING IS YOU CAN PICK UP THESE HORSES FOR AROUND £20,000 AND WIN THE BIGGEST STAYING NOVICE HURDLE OF THE SEASON’

Penhill came from off way the pace to win in 2017 and would go on to win the Stayers' Hurdle a year later.

And it was a quick-fire double for jockey Paul Townend, having won the previous race, with owner Tony Bloom joking:

‘I WAS SLIGHTLY CONCERNED THAT PAUL MIGHT BE HAVING A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE OR TWO BEFORE JUMPING ON’

Unowhatimeanharry vindicated trainer Harry Fry's decision to go for Grade 1 glory when landing a hard-fought victory in 2016, in the colours of his members racing club.

Originally targeted at the Pertemps Final, four successive wins saw him rise so much in the handicap that Fry opted to switch:

‘WE BOUGHT HIM LAST SUMMER THINKING HE HAD THE RIGHT PROFILE FOR A CLUB HORSE. HE WAS A MAIDEN, SO HE GAVE US LOTS OF OPTIONS’

Martello Tower 2015

Very Wood 2014

At Fishers Cross 2013

Brindisi Breeze 2012

Bobs Worth 2011

Berties Dream 2010

Weapon's Amnesty 2009

Nenuphar Collonges 2008

Wichita Lineman 2007

Black Jack Ketchum 2006

Moulin Riche 2005