Pont Alexandre has been favourite for this race since running away with a Grade 2 event at Leopardstown in January. As impressive as he was that day, his hurdling was far from foot-perfect and both of his victories this season have been achieved in heavy ground. Trainer Willie Mullins believes that better ground won’t present a problem for the five-year-old but there must be a slight concern that his hurdling will be put under pressure in a large field. Mullins added that he feels that he is one of the best novice hurdlers that he has trained.
His chief market rival is The New One, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies. The son of King’s Theatre beat My Tent Or Yours in the bumper race at Aintree last season and won his first three hurdle races in good style. He suffered a reverse at Cheltenham in January when collared on the run-in by At Fishers Cross but jockey Sam Twiston-Davies is convinced that he went too soon. The winner is reportedly more likely to go for the Albert Bartlett over three miles. The New One is certain to be ridden with more restraint at the festival and better ground holds no fears for him. He had previously looked a class act when bolting up at Warwick and his trainer considered running him in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle before settling on the longer distance.
Jonjo O’Neill has stated that Taquin Du Seuil represents his best chance of a winner at the festival this year. The six-year-old suffered his only defeat of the season against My Tent Or Yours at Ascot in November, form which now looks particularly sound following that horse’s brilliant victory in the Betfair Hurdle. Taquin Du Seuil got within a length and three-quarters of the favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and has since won comfortably at Sandown and Newbury.
Rule The World is an intriguing entry after a sensational victory at Naas in January. The six-year-old by Sulamani looks to have bags of potential and seemed to surprise trainer Mouse Morris with the ease of his victory that day. The form is a little difficult to interpret because third-placed Champagne Fever was well below his best that day and bounced back to form at Leopardstown in February, conclusively reversing the placings with Naas runner-up Minsk. If you had to pick one horse from this race for the future it would probably be Rule The World but it is just a question whether he can handle the hustle and bustle if the going is on the quick side.
Many of the leading contenders are entered in either the Supreme or the Albert Bartlett and the state of the ground is going to determine the destination of several of them. Among them is Nicky Henderson’s Chatterbox, a stylish winner at Newbury in February. The Lambourn Trainer is already strongly represented in the two-mile championship so may be tempted to take a chance that Chatterbox proves as effective over two and a half miles.
Summary
The going could have a big say in the outcome of this event, the softer the better for the likes of Pont Alexandre and Rule The World. Both horses have been very impressive in heavy ground and their ability to reproduce that form on a better surface has to be taken on trust. The New One and Taquin Du Seuil look likely alternatives and Chatterbox could prove a lively each-way bet if allowed to take his chance.
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