Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle |
||
| Grade 1, Cheltenham 14:50 £135,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 7f 213yds, Class 1 
|
||
|
||
1 Stellar Story 33/1
2 The Jukebox Man 18/1
3 Dancing City 8/1
13 ran NR: Butcher Hollow, Shanagh Bob
Distances: hd, 7l, ¾l Time: 6m 24.40s (slow by 38.40s)
😲 Talk about a dramatic finish!
— Sporting Life Racing (@SportingLife) March 15, 2024
Stellar Story (33/1) chins The Jukebox Man in the Albert Bartlett at @CheltenhamRaces, to give @gelliott_racing a second winner of the week!pic.twitter.com/QhARcXcl2E
Stellar Story delivered a heart-stopping victory, leaving jockey Sam Ewing jubilant. The race unfolded dramatically, with heartbreak for Kielan Woods, Ben Pauling, and Harry Redknapp.
Woods, who had faced a challenging season, watched from the sidelines as Ben Jones secured a Festival win for Pauling and Redknapp. However, it seemed that Woods was about to bask in his own moment of glory aboard The Jukebox Man. Allowed to dictate the pace, The Jukebox Man quickened impressively approaching the final hurdle, opening up a four-length lead over the persistent Stellar Story.
Yet, drama unfolded as The Jukebox Man faltered slightly at the last, allowing Stellar Story to rally. In a nail-biting finish, the two horses crossed the line together, with a photo finish required to determine the winner. To the delight of all, Stellar Story clinched victory by a mere head.
For Sam Ewing, this triumph marked not only his first Cheltenham Festival win but also a maiden Grade One success. The winning margin was announced as a head, sealing a memorable moment for the talented young jockey.
Winning trainer Gordon Elliott said: "Brilliant. Great for Sam Ewing, he's a big part of my team at home. Jack (Kennedy) unfortunately picked the wrong once but we knew both horses would stay; this one's a big chaser for next year.
"I'm delighted for Gigginstown, Michael O'Leary, Lisa and the whole team; they're wonderful supporters of me. You don't realise what a wonderful man he is, there's no one like him."
A crestfallen Pauling commented: "He's run a cracker. He's got an easy lead, dictated the pace and been very sweet in front, just got slightly under the last two and probably just knocked his rhythm a little bit otherwise I think he'd have been away and clear. He's a fabulous horse for next year, a chaser and a gorgeous individual.
"If he'd hung on it would have been one of the rides of the week but there we go. Probably was! But not quite."
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
(Registered As The Spa Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 1)
£135,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 7f 213yds, Class 1
13 ran
Going: Heavy
POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 Stellar Story 7 11-7 Gordon Elliott Sam Ewing 33/1
2 hd The Jukebox Man 6 11-7 Ben Pauling Kielan Woods 18/1
3 7 Dancing City 7 11-7 W P Mullins Danny Mullins 8/1
4 ¾ Spread Boss Ted 7 11-7 W P Mullins Sean O'Keeffe 40/1
5 shd Lecky Watson 6 11-7 W P Mullins Brian Hayes 16/1
6 8 Gidleigh Park 6 11-7 Harry Fry Jonathan Burke 9/2
7 1¾ Search For Glory 7 11-7 Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy 22/1
8 7½ Johnnywho 7 11-7 Jonjo O'Neill Jonjo O'Neill Jr 16/1
9 5 Dripsey Moon 7 11-7 John C McConnell Ben Harvey 200/1
10 24 Captain Teague 6 11-7 Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 6/1
11 3 Chigorin 6 11-7 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 12/1
PU
High Class Hero 7 11-7 W P Mullins Mr P W Mullins 10/1
PU
Readin Tommy Wrong 6 11-7 W P Mullins Paul Townend 2/1F
NR Butcher Hollow 5 11-7 Thomas Cooper NON RUNNER
NR 12 1-11 Shanagh Bob 6 11-7 Nicky Henderson NON RUNNER
PREVIOUS RESULTS
2023 Stay Away Fay
2022 The Nice Guy
2021 Vanillier
2020 Monkfish
2019 Minella Indo
2018-WINNER-KILBRICKEN STORM 7-11-05 Owner-A Selway & P Wavish; Trainer-Colin Tizzard; Jockey-Harry Cobden; SP-33/1
2ND-OK Corral 8-11-05 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-16/1
3RD-Santini 6-11-05 Owner-Richard & Lizzie Kelvin Hughes; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Nico de Boinville; SP-11/4 Fav
20 ran, Time-6m 13.60s; Dist-3, 1½
2017-WINNER-PENHILL 6-11-05 Owner-Tony Bloom; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Paul Townend; SP-16/1
2ND-Monalee 6-11-05 Owner-Barry Maloney; Trainer-Henry de Bromhead IRE; Jockey-David Mullins; SP-8/1
3RD-Wholestone 6-11-05 Owner-Simon Munir & Isaac Souede; Jockey-Daryl Jacob; SP-13/2
15 ran, Time-5m 49.90s; Dist-3 13/8 Fav Death Duty (UR)
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
