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| Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle - Fri March 18th 2011 |
cheltenham festival / 2011 news /
Bobs Worth Bags Albert Bartlett
18/03/11
1 Bobs Worth 15/8 Fav
2 Mossley 12/1
3 Court In Motion 9/1
NR: Fully Funded (USA), Rif (FR)
18 ran Distances: 2¼l, 6l, 5l
TIME 5m 42.20s (slow by 1.20s)
Bobs Worth and Mossley gave Nicky Henderson a notable one-two in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham for his first winner of the meeting.
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He said: “It’s been a long week. But I have to say I do feel sorry for Michael Buckley [the owner of runner-up Mossley] who has been having seconds all week along with me. Now I’ve beaten him with my own horse which seems quite cruel to me.
“But this horse is owned by a big bunch of great mates and they’ll all be celebrating tonight.
“One bookmaker must be quite pleased because I backed myself at 16/1 to have no winners -that was my insurance policy. They’ve been running well though. The first daywas absolute purgatory because they were so close.”
Henderson added: “I had to push quite hard to send Bobs Worth to this race. He has stayed and that’s what he is. The two and a half [Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle] looked really tough and this is a huge relief.”
Winning jockey Barry Geraghty, who bought Bobs Worth as a yearling and sold him as a four-year-old,q said: “He’s unassuming -he never gives you the impression that he has all that but then away he goes. He has a lovely attitude.
“If I’d had another winner in the week I’d have come here today saying he was a certainty because I felt he was but after this week it was hard to say. The results weren’t coming our way.
“I’d say we got a fair price for him when we sold him and now I’m getting bonuses on his back. I’ve no complaints.”
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Position |
Horse Trainer |
Jockey Weight |
Starting Price Beaten Distance |
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1 |
Bobs Worth N J Henderson |
B J Geraghty 11st 7lbs |
15 - 8 Winner |
|
2 |
Mossley N J Henderson |
A P McCoy 11st 7lbs |
12 - 1 2 1/4 lengths |
|
3 |
Court In Motion Miss E C Lavelle |
Jack Doyle 11st 7lbs |
9 - 1 6 lengths |
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4 |
Champion Court M Keighley |
W Marston 11st 7lbs |
16 - 1 5 lengths |
|
5 |
Kilcrea Kim P J Hobbs |
R Johnson 11st 7lbs |
6 - 1 1 1/4 length |
|
6 |
Ackertac N A Twiston-Davies |
P J Brennan 11st 7lbs |
40 - 1 6 lengths |
|
7 |
Our Island Tim Vaughan |
T Scudamore 11st 7lbs |
33 - 1 3 1/4 lengths |
|
8 |
Teaforthree Miss R Curtis |
A Coleman 11st 7lbs |
28 - 1 Head |
|
9 |
Allee Garde W P Mullins |
D J Casey 11st 7lbs |
66 - 1 1 length |
|
10 |
Sybarite N A Twiston-Davies |
S Twiston-Davies 11st 7lbs |
25 - 1 4 1/2 lengths |
|
11 |
No Secrets W J Greatrex |
W Hutchinson 11st 7lbs |
50 - 1 3 1/4 lengths |
|
Pulled Up |
Fiulin Evan Williams |
Paul Moloney 11st 7lbs |
66 - 1 |
|
Pulled Up |
Gagewell Flyer W P Mullins |
P Townend 11st 7lbs |
15 - 2 |
|
Fell |
Jetnova A King |
R Thornton 11st 7lbs |
40 - 1 |
|
Pulled Up |
Join Together P F Nicholls |
R Walsh 11st 7lbs |
8 - 1 |
|
Pulled Up |
Moonlight Drive J J Quinn |
G Lee 11st 7lbs |
20 - 1 |
|
Pulled Up |
Radetsky March M Bradstock |
J M Maguire 11st 7lbs |
66 - 1 |
|
Pulled Up |
Start Me Up C F Swan |
D N Russell 11st 7lbs |
80 - 1 |
|
Non Runner |
Fully Funded N Meade |
P Carberry 11st 7lbs |
- |
|
Non Runner |
Rif A M Hales |
D F O'Regan 11st 7lbs |
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FENCES NEXT SEASON FOR COURT IN MOTION AND MOSSLEY
Emma Lavelle is looking forward to seeing how Court In Motion fares over fences next season after the six-year-old finished third behind the Nicky Henderson pair of Bob’s Worth and Mossley in the Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle over three miles.
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Lavelle said: “It would have been great to have won it but he has run a blinder to finish third.
“He jumped really well, it’s just that on better ground he lacks that gear. The others quickened and he couldn’t quite quicken in the same manner but he kept galloping all the way to the line.
“I can’t wait to see him jump a fence!
“Nobody could have given him a better ride than Jack. He had him in the right place all the way through. If he was good enough on the day he would have won but he just lacked that extra pace on the ground.”
Doyle commented: “He travelled super and gave me a great ride. There are no excuses, he was just not good enough today but he’ll be the real deal over fences next year.”
The Nicky Henderson-trained Mossley stayed on in pursuit of stablemate Bob’s Worth but the 12/1 runner-up was unable to overhaul the well-backed 15/8 favourite.
Owner Michael Buckley said: “He’s only five and the winner was a year older. I think that makes a big difference in that the other horse was a bit more grown up. I shouldn’t think he’ll run again this season and will come back novice chasing next season. I’m delighted Nicky has had a winner.”
CHAMPION COURT SUCH A BRIGHT PROSPECT
Gloucestershire trainer Martin Keighley was looking to the future while enjoying the moment following Champion Court’s good run when fourth in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
Keighley said: “He’s a very bright prospect. That was only his third run over hurdles, and Warren [Marston] said the way he jumped the hurdles at speed that two and a half miles might suit him better.
He’s quite a fresh horse because we had to give our horses a break [in midwinter] when they were wrong, so he’ll probably go to Aintree now.
“Next season he will jump fences. He’s not filled his frame yet and will be quite a horse when he does. He gives us a lot to look forward to.”
PREVIOUS RESULTS
2010-WINNER-BERTIES DREAM 7-11-07 Owner-Half A Keg Syndicate; Trainer-Paul Gilligan IRE; Jockey-Andrew Lynch; SP-33/1
2ND-Najaf 5-110-7 Owner-The Johnson & Stewart Families; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Timmy Murphy; SP-25/1
3RD-Kennel Hill Owner-Peter & Lisa Hall; Trainer-Keith Goldsworthy; Jockey-Jason Maguire; SP-66/1
19 ran, Time-5m 55.60s; Dist-6, 8 100/30 Fav Tell Massini (PU)
2009-WINNER-WEAPON'S AMNESTY 6-11-07 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer Charles Byrnes IRE; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-8/1
2ND-Pride Of Dulcote 6-11-07 Owner-Angela Yeoman; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-3/1 Fav
3RD-The Midnight Club 8-11-07 Owner-C C R Racing Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Emmet Mullins; SP-14/1
17 ran, Time-5m 59.90s; Dist-½, 2
2008-WINNER-NENUPHAR COLLONGES 7-11-07 Owner-Top Brass Partnership; Trainer-Alan King; Jockey-Robert Thornton; SP-9/1
2ND-Liskennett 5-11-00 Owner- Patrick Pierce; Trainer-Charles Byrnes IRE; Jockey-Niall Madden; SP-16/1
3RD-The Tother One 7-11-07 Owner-Graham Roach; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Sam Thomas; SP-9/2 Jt Fav
18 ran, Time-6m 0.20s; Dist-2¾, ½ 9/2 Jt Fav Carruthers (11th)
2007-WINNER-WICHITA LINEMAN 6-11-07 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-11/8 Fav
2ND-Air Force One 5-11-07 Owner-Brian Walsh (Co Kildare); Trainer-Charlie Mann; Jockey-Noel Fehily; SP-25/1
3RD-Itsa Legend 8-11-07 Owner-The We’re A Legend Partnership; Trainer-The We’re A Legend Partnership; SP-100/1
20 ran Time-5m 43.60s; Dist-12, 6
2006-WINNER-BLACK
JACK KETCHUM 7-11-07 Owner-Gay Smith; Trainer-Jonjo
O'Neill; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-Evens Fav
2ND-Powerstation 6-11-07 Owner-Fat Frog Syndicate; Trainer-Charles Byrnes
IRE; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-9/1
3RD-Travino 7-11-07 Owner-P Kilroy; Trainer-Mags Mullins IRE; Jockey-Barry
Geraghty 6/1
19 ran Time-5m 43.6s; Dist-12,6
2005-WINNER-MOULIN
RICHE 4-11-00 Owner-Elite Racing Club; Trainer-Alan
King; Jockey-Robert Thornton; SP-9/1
2ND-Faasel 4-11-00 Owner-Jim Ennis; Trainer-Nicky Richards; Jockey-Tony
Dobbin; SP-7/1
3RD-Akilak 4-11-00 Owner-Andrea & Graham Wylie; Trainer-Howard Johnson;
Jockey-Graham Lee; SP-7/2 Fav
23 ran. Time-4m 3.60s; Dist-hd, 8
FACTS AND FIGURES ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES’ HURDLE
1. The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle was added to The Festival in 2005 and provides a valuable opportunity for staying novice hurdlers as it is run over three miles. Initially sponsored by Brit Insurance, it was backed by Albert Bartlett for the first time in 2008, coinciding with its upgrade to Grade One status.
2. The inaugural running went to Moulin Riche, trained by Francois Doumen in France and partnered to success by Robert Thornton. Thornton enjoyed a second success aboard the Alan King-trained Nenuphar Collonges in 2008.
3. Trainer Jonjo O’Neill and jockey Tony McCoy combined to take two consecutive runnings with impressive winners – Wichita Lineman, who scored by 12 lengths in 2007, and Black Jack Ketchum, a nine-length winner in 2006. Both started favourite.
4. Weapon’s Amnesty became the first Irish-trained winner of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle in 2009, taking the spoils for trainer Charles Byrnes and jockey Davy Russell. He returned to The Festival in 2010 to win the RSA Chase. Berties Dream doubled the Irish tally when scoring in 2010.
