Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle |
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| Grade 1, Cheltenham 14:50 £125,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 7f 213yds, Class 1 
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| Friday 17th March 2017 | |
1 Penhill 16/1
2 Monalee 8/1
3 Wholestone 13/2
15 ran Distances: 3½l, 4l, 8l
Time: 5m 49.90s (slow by 8.90s)
A quick double for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins as Penhill wins
Penhill (right) on his way to victory
Willie Mullins scored a sixth winner of The Festival 2017, going to the top of the trainers' table at the meeting, when Penhill beat Monalee by three and a half lengths at odds of 16/1. It was his first Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle triumph.
It was a second success of the day for jockey Paul Townend and a 356/1 double for him and Mullins on the day.
Mullins: "It isn't a race that has been lucky for us in the past. Penhill has class. We were trying to win with him over two miles and he just couldn't handle the pace of top-class racing over two miles, so we let him out to three miles and he impressed us so we said we'd go for this race. As he gets more experienced, maybe he could come back in trip.
"We'll probably go to Punchestown now, and then go back on the Flat I think; Ascot, and then maybe the Melbourne Cup. Maybe he won't be good enough when we try the Flat game with him, but we'll see. He's got a typical profile for the type of horse we manage to bring back to the Flat. The owner was keen to do that and sent him to me with that in mind."
Owner Tony Bloom, who sent Penhill to Mullins at the start of this season and who was collecting his first Festival winner's trophy, said: "I am over the moon for everyone involved. It was a great ride again by Paul and we are delighted. It is a brilliant horse that we have here.
"He was looking good all the way and, certainly two out, we really were quite expecting it. He ran a brilliant race - his hurdling was a lot better than it has been and he has got the pace.
"We don't want it too fast and the race was perfect for him - it was brilliantly run.
"I haven't had many Cheltenham runners, so to have a winner at The Festival means a lot to me. It's really exciting. There are quite a lot of friends here today and a lot of us were on at 16/1 and 20/1, so we are delighted.
"I have only started having horses with Willie Mullins this season, when we decided to go over hurdles with Penhill. He is one of the best trainers ever, and we have a great relationship.
"I was slightly concerned that Paul might be having a glass of champagne or two before jumping on [having won the last race on Arctic Fire], but he went from one winner to the other. Two 20/1 winners - what a brilliant day he has had."
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
(Registered As The Spa Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 1)
£125,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 7f 213yds, Class 1
15 ran
Going: Good
| Pos | Dist | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Penhill 16/1 | P Townend 11-5 |
W P Mullins | 6 | |
| 2nd | 3½ | Monalee (IRE) 8/1 | D J Mullins 11-5 |
H de Bromhead | 6 |
| 3rd | 4 | Wholestone (IRE) 13/2 | D A Jacob 11-5 |
N A Twiston-Davies | 6 |
| 4th | 8 | Constantine Bay 12/1 | Nico de Boinville 11-5 |
N J Henderson | 6 |
| 5th | 6 | Ami Desbois (FR) 33/1 | Kielan Woods 11-5 |
G McPherson | 7 |
| 6th | 4 | Augusta Kate 11/2 | R Walsh 10-12 |
W P Mullins | 6 |
| 7th | ½ | Elegant Escape (IRE) 100/1 | T Scudamore 11-5 |
C L Tizzard | 5 |
| 8th | 6 | Tommy Rapper (IRE) 33/1 | Harry Skelton 11-5 |
D Skelton | 6 |
| 9th | ½ | Step Back (IRE) 100/1 | J E Moore 11-5 |
M Bradstock | 7 |
| 10th | 6 | C'est Jersey (FR) 100/1 | R M Power 11-5 |
W P Mullins | 5 |
| 11th | 21 | Baden (FR) 100/1 | J McGrath 11-5 |
N J Henderson | 6 |
| Also Ran: Any Drama (IRE) , Death Duty (IRE) , The Worlds End (IRE) , Turcagua (FR) | |||||
DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR TOWNEND
Paul Townend made it a quick fire 356/1 double when taking the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle by three and a half lengths on the Willie Mullins-trained 16/1 chance Penhill, following the combination's Randox Health County Hurdle victory with Arctic Fire.
"Penhill is class horse, just like the last winner," said the winning jockey. "We kept him wide to help him get into a rhythm and everything went right for him.
"I never really had any worries - luckily we avoided the late faller - but you need that bit of luck. I suppose coming down the hill I knew that I had loads of horse under me and that we'd be going close.
"I won on him over three miles at Limerick over Christmas on heavy ground and he saw it out really well that day. The trip gives him a chance to warm up, and his Flat class came into play up the hill today."
Reflecting on riding a back-to-back double, Townend added: "It's grand, there's no feeling like it. It's a brilliant day."
MONALEE FINISHES SECOND
Henry De Bromhead was delighted with the performance of 8/1 shot Monalee, who finished a three and a half-length second.
Always prominent under David Mullins, the six-year-old son of Milan was vying for the lead approaching the final flight, but was unable to match the winner's potent turn of foot up the Cheltenham hill.
Nigel Twiston-Davies' Wholestone (13/2) was a further four lengths back in third.
De Bromhead said: "Unfortunately, he just met a very battle-hardened horse there. Anything he does this year will hopefully be a bonus for when we go chasing as that is going to be his game.
"I'm delighted with the run but disappointed to be beaten."
David Mullins, Monalee's rider, said: "I am absolutely thrilled to bits with him. He is going to improve double next year when he jumps a fence.
"He has my heart racing when I go to see him every day so I'm delighted."
Nigel Twiston-Davies was also happy with the run of third-placed Wholestone. He said: "He has definitely run to his mark. We beat all the English horses out of sight and beat the favourite Death Duty. It was just two good Irish horses who have come over that beat us. He ran really well.
"We will definitely go to Aintree next and hopefully the two in front of us will stay away."
PREVIOUS RESULTS
2016-WINNER-UNOWHATIMEANHARRY 8-11-05 Owner-Harry Fry Racing Club; Trainer-Harry Fry; Jockey; Noel Fehily; SP-11/1
2ND-Fagan 6-11-05 Owner-Ronnie Bartlett; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-33/1
3RD-Champers On Ice 6-11-05 Owner-Prof Caroline Tisdall & Bryan Drew; Trainer-David Pipe; Jockey-Tom Scudamore; SP-20/1
19 ran, Time-5m 48.10s; Dist-1¼, 1½ 7/2 Fav Shantou Village (PU)
2015-WINNER-MARTELLO TOWER 7-11-07 Owner-Barry Connell; Trainer-Mags Mullins IRE; Jockey-Adrian Heskin; SP-14/1
2ND-Milsean 6-11-07 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Danny Mullins; SP-33/1
3RD-No More Heroes 6-11-07 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE; Jockey-Bryan Cooper; SP-6/1
19 ran, Time-6m 0.30s; Dist-½, 1 5/2 Fav Black Hercules (7th)
2014-WINNER-VERY WOOD 5-11-07 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Noel Meade IRE; Jockey-Paul Carberry; SP-33/1
2ND-Deputy Dan 6-11-07 Owner-Tim Syder; Trainer-Oliver Sherwood; Jockey-Leighton Aspell; SP-10/1
3RD-Apache Jack 6-11-07 Owner-Mrs Pat Sloan; Trainer-Dessie Hughes IRE; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-20/1
18 ran, Time-5m 50.70s; Dist-4½, sh 2/1 Fav Briar Hill (Fell)
2013-WINNER-AT FISHERS CROSS 6-11-07 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer- Rebecca Curtis; Jockey-A P McCoy; SP-11/8 Fav
2ND-African Gold 5-11-07 Owner- Ron Bauer; Trainer-Nigel Twiston-Davies; Jockey-Sam Twiston-Davies; SP-9/2
3RD-Inish Island 7-11-07 Owner- Susan, Hazel F& Patrick Flanagan; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-13/2
13 ran, Time-6m 40.10s; Dist-4½, nose
2012-WINNER-BRINDISI BREEZE 6-11-07 Owner-Sandy Seymour; Trainer-Lucinda Russell; Jockey-Campbell Gillies; SP-7/1
2ND-Boston Bob 7-11-07 Owner-Andrea & Graham Wylie; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-6/5 Fav
3RD-Grand Vision 6-11-07 Owner-Terry Warner; Trainer-Colin Tizzard; Jockey-Tom O’Brien; SP-25/1 20 ran, Time-5m 47.20s; Dist-2, 1¼
2011-WINNER-BOBS WORTH 6-11-07 Owner-The Not Afraid Partnership; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-15/8 Fav
2ND-Mossley 5-11-07 Owner-Michael Buckley; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-A P McCoy; SP-12/1
3RD-Court In Motion 6-11-07 Owner-Nick Mustoe; Trainer-Emma Lavelle; Jockey-Jack Doyle; SP-9/1
18 ran, Time-5m 42.20s; Dist-21⁄4, 6
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
