Registered as the Bristol Novices Hurdle, the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett has proven in the past that it can be a starting point for some further Grade 1 winners.
Kilbricken Strom, Unowhatimeanharry, and Gold Cup hero Coneygree have all won here in recent years before going on to bigger and better things.
There may not be a superstar lurking in plain sight, but there is a hurdler who is rapidly improving and may not have reached the ceiling of his ability just yet.
Here, I am going to take you through all seven runners and who I believe will win the 2024 Grade 2 Albert Bartlett.
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle runner by runner betting guide
Now it’s time to take a in-depth look into runners of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and the best horse racing bookmakers to help you make a winning bet.
🏇 2 Skyjack Hikack
- Age: 6
- Weight: 11st 3lb
- Form: 111111
- Rating: 138
- Jockey: Sean Quinlan
- Trainer: Jenny Candlish
- Odds: 2/1
If there were ever an award for the best hurdling technique in racing, then it would be a landslide victory for Skyjack Hijack.
I have never witnessed a staying hurdler as fast as he is from A to B over hurdles.
He gains lengths over every hurdle while his rivals have struggled to keep tabs on him in behind.
Having got a mark of 96 back in July, he has made a mockery of that, winning six on the bounce.
It’s his ability to put horses under pressure a long way from home solely because of the amount of ground and momentum he gains over his hurdles.
He has won by a cumulative 71 lengths in just his last five wins, and yes, some have been against much inferior opposition, but it’s the style in which he is doing it that makes you think that he has so much more to offer.
This is a big step up in Grade, but if he can get into his usual rhythm out in front, I find it hard not to see him being good enough to continue his winning spree.
He may not be from a fancy stable, but he may be about to thrust them into the limelight.
Skyjack Hijack is a hugely exciting horse.
✅ Has won his last six races
✅ Gains lengths at his hurdles
✅ Will get less experienced hurdles in trouble a long way out
✅ Yet to see his ceiling of ability
❌ Has been on the go since June
Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐⭐⭐
🐎 Bet on Skyjack Hikack with talkSPORT BET 🐎
🏇 5 Clondaw General
- Age: 5
- Weight: 11st 0lb
- Form: 1-1
- Rating: –
- Jockey: Jonathan Burke
- Trainer: Kim Bailey
- Odds: 3/1
Having made a winner start over hurdles when beating the more experienced Big John Wayne at Worcester, Clondaw General is one of the most unexposed and interesting runners here.
If you watch his last run, you can see that he was still very green throughout, but when asked for his effort, he won in the style of a very nice prospect.
He comes in here against some rivals with much more experience than him, and he will need to have learned a lot from his first run. If he shows inexperience over his obstacles, he will struggle to keep tabs on Skyjack Hijack.
He’s a nice project going forward, and we will see the best of him over fences, but experience may catch him out today.
✅ A good winner on hurdles debut
✅ Has a bright future
❌ His lack of experience may cost him at this level
Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐
🐎 Bet on Clondaw General with Sky Bet 🐎
🏇 3 Western Knight
- Age: 5
- Weight: 11st 3lb
- Form: 2/7-11
- Rating: 128
- Jockey: Brendan Powell
- Trainer: Joe Tizzard
- Odds: 4/1
Western Knight made it two from two over hurdles when pulling well clear with the second, Excello, at Ascot last month.
That was a very nice performance, and it set him up nicely for a horse who looks like he will appreciate the step up in trip.
He looks like an uncomplicated horse with a big engine, and for one who likes to sit well off the pace, he will get a nice toe into the race with Skyjack Hijack making the running.
Western Knight can prove the biggest danger to the favourite here, and if there are any chinks in Skyjack Hijacks’ armour at this level, he will be on hand to take full advantage.
✅ Have been very good in his two wins to date
✅ Has a bright future
❌ Wouldn’t want to give Skyjack Hijack too much rope upfront
Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🐎 Bet on Western Knight with Paddy Power 🐎
🏇 1 Jet Blue
- Age: 5
- Weight: 11st 5lb
- Form: 13-312
- Rating: 134
- Jockey: James Reveley
- Trainer: D Cottin
- Odds: 11/2
Jet Blue has already run 14 times in his career in France, but only three of those starts were over hurdles.
This will be his first run for David Cottin, but he was a winner for his former trainer, Hugo Merienne, at Auteuil in October.
That was on heavy ground, and although he has won on good to soft ground in France in Grade 2 AQPS as a two-year-old, it’s unlikely that this will be what he wants.
His second behind Ain’t Got Wings has been franked since, but he will need to take a step forward on his first run outside of France on a track that will present a much different test to what he has ever faced over hurdles in France.
✅ From a respected French stable
✅ The winner has franked his latest second
❌ Has shown his best form on soft to heavy ground
❌ Unknown if he will adapt to an undulating track
Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
🐎 Bet on Jet Blue with Midnite 🐎
🏇 4 Aboutdamntime
- Age: 5
- Weight: 11st 0lb
- Form: P/2-1
- Rating: –
- Jockey: Craig Nichol
- Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
- Odds: 11/1
Aboutdamntime made a nice start to life over hurdles when beating Kevins’ Pride at Carlise last month (the third has won since), who was bought by current connections after an impressive bumper win in Ireland.
He travelled strongly throughout the race and found plenty for pressure. But even with that win under his belt, he needs the step up to three miles to bring about a sizable chunk of improvement, which isn’t impossible.
He is trained by a yard that is making a name for itself, but this may be a step too far too soon.
Even if today is not his day, he is one to keep a close eye on going forward.
✅ Did well to win on his debut
✅ Step up in trip looks likely to suit
❌ Need to leave that form well behind
Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐
🐎 Bet on Aboutdamntime with bet365 🐎
🏇 7 Yellow Car
- Age: 6
- Weight: 11st 0lb
- Form: 1U1215
- Rating: 124
- Jockey: Nick Slatter
- Trainer: David Kilahena & Graeme McPherson
- Odds: 28/1
Having won nicely on his second start this season, Yellow Car ran no race last time out at Doncaster when sent off a well-backed favourite.
The trainer suggested that the step back up in the trip would improve his performance next time out, and it would need to, and more if he is to get involved today.
It’s hard to see him getting playing a part here.
✅ The step back up in trip should suit
✅ Two wins from four starts over hurdles
❌ Needs a big step forward to get seriously involved
Star rating: ⭐️⭐️
🐎 Bet on Yellow Car with CopyBet 🐎
🏇 6 Stop Loss
- Age: 6
- Weight: 11st 0lb
- Form: 4/
- Rating: –
- Jockey: Max Kendrick
- Trainer: Fergal O’Brien
- Odds: 100/1
Stop Loss is returning from a long layoff, and a safe round while gaining experience is all that will be on the cards today.
To say it would be a massive shock for him to get involved would be an understatement.
His odds tell you everything you need to know.
✅ No clear positives
❌ Returning from a big layoff
❌ First run over hurdles
Star rating: ⭐️
🐎 Bet on Stop Loss with SBK 🐎
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle verdict
If you are a lover of jump racing, then you love every second of watching SKYJACK HIJACK.
His rise through the ranks has been rapid, and it shows no sign of stopping just yet.
If he can jump like he has done on his last six wins, then there is no reason why he can’t get his rivals in trouble a long way out and claim his first graded victory.
Western Knight may prove to be the best of the rest.
About the author
Andrew Halligan
My name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing pundit and founder of YouTube’s The Finishing Line Podcast. Horse racing is a thrilling spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its blend of drama and excitement. Whether you’re a jumps or flat fan, I will use my experience of working within the horse racing industry to bring the best of what this sport has to offer.
You can follow Andrew on X (@Halligan88).
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