Albert Bartlett Spa Novices’ Hurdle Race Card

The Spa Novices’ Hurdle, which is known as the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle for sponsorship reasons, is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race that is run on the New Course at Cheltenham, on the Friday of the Cheltenham Festival.

On this race card page, you can discover everything you need to know about the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, including our tips for the race and a list of past winners.

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Runners And Entries 2024

The runners and entries for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle for this year's Cheltenham Festival can all be found below.

This is a full list of entries, but there will be declarations 5 days before the race, and final declarations 48 hours before.

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Spa Novices' Hurdle) (GBB Race)

1st
Sam Ewing

Stellar Story

Age: 7
Weight: 11.5
OR: 141
J:
 
Sam Ewing
T:
 
Gordon Elliott
raced in second, challenging 2 out, ridden and outpaced approaching last, 4 lengths down when overjumped last, kept on well and led final strides
2nd
Kielan Woods

The Jukebox Man

Age: 6
Weight: 11.5
OR: 136
J:
 
Kielan Woods
T:
 
Ben Pauling
led, faced challenge when not fluent 2 out, shaken up and went clear approaching last, 4 lengths ahead when not fluent last, soon edged left and ridden, edged right and reduced lead inside final 110yds, no extra and headed final strides
3rd
Danny Mullins

Dancing City

Age: 7
Weight: 11.5
OR: 151
J:
 
Danny Mullins
T:
 
W P Mullins
prominent, ridden and went third approaching last, hit last, soon no extra
4th
Sean O'Keeffe

Spread Boss Ted

Age: 7
Weight: 11.5
OR: N/A
J:
 
Sean O'Keeffe
T:
 
W P Mullins
in rear, good headway on inner after 2 out, went fourth and edged right approaching last, no impression

Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle Tips

This is where you’ll find all of our Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle tips. Looking for tips for other races as well? Head over to our daily tips page.

Ascot - December 21 2024
Ascot 15:35
9
Harry Cobden

Kabral Du Mathan

J: Harry Cobden
T: Paul Nicholls
Harry Cobden

Kabral Du Mathan

sbk
£10.00 Returns £82.00
36/5
betano
£10.00 Returns £80.00
7/1
betway
£10.00 Returns £80.00
7/1
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £80.00
7/1
parimatch
£10.00 Returns £80.00
7/1
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £80.00
7/1
bet365
£10.00 Returns £75.00
13/2
betfred
£10.00 Returns £75.00
13/2
betuk
£10.00 Returns £75.00
13/2
copybet
£10.00 Returns £75.00
13/2
midnite
£10.00 Returns £75.00
13/2
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £75.00
13/2
betfair
£10.00 Returns £70.00
6/1
coral
£10.00 Returns £70.00
6/1
skybet
£10.00 Returns £70.00
6/1
36/5
Age: 4
Weight: 11-2
OR: 131
Days: 26
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
25/11/24KEM16GS11-91
12/01/24HUN16GS11-81
19/07/23CLA17VSft10-61
Ascot 15:00
4
Charlie Deutsch

Victtorino

J: Charlie Deutsch
T: Venetia Williams
Charlie Deutsch

Victtorino

sbk
£10.00 Returns £36.00
13/5
betuk
£10.00 Returns £35.00
5/2
betway
£10.00 Returns £34.00
12/5
bet365
£10.00 Returns £32.50
9/4
betano
£10.00 Returns £32.50
9/4
betfair
£10.00 Returns £32.50
9/4
betfred
£10.00 Returns £32.50
9/4
copybet
£10.00 Returns £32.50
9/4
coral
£10.00 Returns £32.50
9/4
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £32.50
9/4
midnite
£10.00 Returns £32.50
9/4
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £32.50
9/4
parimatch
£10.00 Returns £32.50
9/4
skybet
£10.00 Returns £32.50
9/4
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £32.50
9/4
13/5
Age: 6
Weight: 11-2
OR: 143
Days: 21
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
30/11/24NBY26GS11-33
12/03/24CHL25Hy11-6PU
17/02/24ASC24GS11-84
27/01/24CHL20.5GS11-47
23/12/23ASC24Gd12-01
Ascot 14:25
7
Sean Bowen

Strong Leader

J: Sean Bowen
T: Olly Murphy
Sean Bowen

Strong Leader

bet365
£10.00 Returns £25.00
6/4
betfred
£10.00 Returns £25.00
6/4
betuk
£10.00 Returns £25.00
6/4
betway
£10.00 Returns £25.00
6/4
copybet
£10.00 Returns £25.00
3/2
midnite
£10.00 Returns £25.00
6/4
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £23.75
11/8
sbk
£10.00 Returns £23.00
13/10
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £22.50
5/4
betfair
£10.00 Returns £22.00
6/5
betano
£10.00 Returns £19.09
10/11
parimatch
£10.00 Returns £19.09
10/11
coral
£10.00 Returns £18.33
5/6
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £18.33
5/6
6/4
Age: 7
Weight: 11-7
OR: 158
Days: 22
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
29/11/24NBY24Sft11-81
13/04/24AIN24.5GS11-101
27/01/24CHL24GS11-23
01/01/24CHL20.5Hy11-04
25/11/23ASC19.5Gd11-02
Ascot 13:50
4
Daryl Jacob

James Du Berlais

J: Daryl Jacob
T: W P Mullins
Daryl Jacob

James Du Berlais

sbk
£10.00 Returns £200.00
19/1
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £70.00
6/1
betano
£10.00 Returns £45.00
7/2
parimatch
£10.00 Returns £45.00
7/2
betfred
£10.00 Returns £37.50
11/4
betuk
£10.00 Returns £37.50
11/4
midnite
£10.00 Returns £37.50
11/4
betway
£10.00 Returns £35.00
5/2
copybet
£10.00 Returns £35.00
5/2
coral
£10.00 Returns £35.00
5/2
bet365
£10.00 Returns £30.00
2/1
betfair
£10.00 Returns £30.00
2/1
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £30.00
2/1
19/1
Age: 8
Weight: 11-7
OR: 155
Days: 234
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
01/05/24PUN20.5Gd/Y11-12F
12/04/24AIN21Sft11-102
14/03/24CHL20.5Sft12-07
04/02/24LEO21.5Y/Sft11-03
27/12/23LEO24.5Sft11-114
Ascot 13:15
4
Caoilin Quinn

Kotmask

J: Caoilin Quinn
T: Gary & Josh Moore
Caoilin Quinn

Kotmask

copybet
£10.00 Returns £28.89
17/9
betuk
£10.00 Returns £28.75
15/8
betway
£10.00 Returns £28.75
15/8
midnite
£10.00 Returns £28.75
15/8
betfred
£10.00 Returns £27.50
7/4
bet365
£10.00 Returns £26.25
13/8
betfair
£10.00 Returns £26.25
13/8
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £26.25
13/8
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £26.25
13/8
sbk
£10.00 Returns £24.80
37/25
betano
£10.00 Returns £22.50
5/4
parimatch
£10.00 Returns £22.50
5/4
coral
£10.00 Returns £21.00
11/10
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £21.00
11/10
17/9
Age: 6
Weight: 10-13
OR: 130
Days: 28
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
23/11/24ASC17Gd11-42
02/11/24ASC17Gd10-03
27/04/24SAN20Gd10-104
01/04/24PLU20Gd11-123
09/03/24SAN20GS11-6F
Haydock - December 21 2024
Haydock 14:05
1
Sean Quinlan

Famous Bridge

J: Sean Quinlan
T: Nicky Richards
Sean Quinlan

Famous Bridge

bet365
£10.00 Returns £45.00
7/2
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £45.00
7/2
sbk
£10.00 Returns £44.00
17/5
betfair
£10.00 Returns £43.33
10/3
coral
£10.00 Returns £43.33
10/3
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £43.33
10/3
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £43.33
10/3
betano
£10.00 Returns £40.00
3/1
parimatch
£10.00 Returns £40.00
3/1
betfred
£10.00 Returns £37.50
11/4
betuk
£10.00 Returns £37.50
11/4
betway
£10.00 Returns £37.50
11/4
copybet
£10.00 Returns £37.50
11/4
midnite
£10.00 Returns £37.50
11/4
7/2
Age: 8
Weight: 12-0
OR: 137
Days: 56
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
26/10/24KEL26GS11-32
12/03/24CHL25Hy11-04
17/02/24HAY28.5Hy11-4UR
27/01/24DON24Gd11-5PU
23/12/23HAY25.5Hy11-91
Haydock 12:55
3
Craig Nichol

Kelya Wood

J: Craig Nichol
T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
Craig Nichol

Kelya Wood

bet365
£10.00 Returns £50.00
4/1
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £50.00
4/1
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £50.00
4/1
betfair
£10.00 Returns £47.50
15/4
sbk
£10.00 Returns £47.00
37/10
betfred
£10.00 Returns £43.33
10/3
betuk
£10.00 Returns £43.33
10/3
betway
£10.00 Returns £43.33
100/30
copybet
£10.00 Returns £43.33
10/3
midnite
£10.00 Returns £43.33
10/3
betano
£10.00 Returns £28.75
15/8
coral
£10.00 Returns £28.75
15/8
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £28.75
15/8
parimatch
£10.00 Returns £28.75
15/8
4/1
Age: 4
Weight: 11-0
OR: N/A
Days: 27
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
24/11/24UTT16Sft11-01
Haydock 15:15
2
Tom Buckley

The Imposter

J: Tom Buckley
T: Nigel Hawke
Tom Buckley

The Imposter

sbk
£10.00 Returns £165.00
31/2
bet365
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
betano
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
betfred
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
betuk
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
betway
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
coral
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
parimatch
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
betfair
£10.00 Returns £120.00
11/1
copybet
£10.00 Returns £120.00
11/1
midnite
£10.00 Returns £120.00
11/1
skybet
£10.00 Returns £110.00
10/1
31/2
Age: 7
Weight: 11-12
OR: 125
Days: 28
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
23/11/24HAY24.5Sft10-7PU
09/12/23CHP23.5Hy11-121
26/11/23UTT23.5Sft11-01
12/11/23FFO24Hy11-31
02/04/23ASC23.5GS11-81
Wolverhampton (AW) - December 21 2024
Wolverhampton (AW) 19:45
8(7)
Marco Ghiani

Boujee Gold

J: Marco Ghiani
T: Tony Carroll
Marco Ghiani

Boujee Gold

sbk
£10.00 Returns £155.00
29/2
bet365
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
betfred
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
betuk
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
betway
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
coral
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
betfair
£10.00 Returns £120.00
11/1
copybet
£10.00 Returns £120.00
11/1
midnite
£10.00 Returns £120.00
11/1
betano
£10.00 Returns £110.00
10/1
parimatch
£10.00 Returns £110.00
10/1
skybet
£10.00 Returns £110.00
10/1
29/2
Age: 5
Weight: 8-11
OR: 48
Days: 17
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
04/12/24LIN8St9-46
21/11/24WOL9.5St9-74
18/11/24STH7St9-59
21/10/24WOL9.5St9-1111
05/09/24WOL9.5St9-44
Wolverhampton (AW) 18:45
3(1)
Hector Crouch

One More Wave

J: Hector Crouch
T: Jonathan Portman
Hector Crouch

One More Wave

betfair
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
betfred
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
betuk
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
betway
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
copybet
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
coral
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
sbk
£10.00 Returns £59.00
49/10
bet365
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
betano
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
midnite
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
parimatch
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
skybet
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
5/1
Age: 4
Weight: 9-8
OR: 73
Days: 8
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
13/12/24STH5St9-87
03/12/24LIN6St9-95
18/11/24STH5St8-131
17/08/24BAT5.5GF9-98
29/07/24STH6St9-43

Third race of Gold Cup Day

The Spa Novices’ Hurdle, known affectionately as the Albert Bartlett, is the third race on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival.

The race is run over three miles (2 miles 7 furlongs and 213 yards, or 4,822 metres) over the New Course at Cheltenham and it features 12 hurdles that must be jumped.
The Albert Bartlett is widely regarded as the most difficult novice hurdle of the National Hunt season. It’s open to horses aged five and over who are novice hurdlers and the value of the purse is £135,000.

The race is often seen as a starting point for future staying hurdlers. Penhill won the 2017 race before going on to win the 2018 Stayers’ Hurdle, and Unowhatimeanharry won the Albert Bartlett in 2016 before placing in the 2017 Stayers’ Hurdle.

History of the Spa Novices’ Hurdle

The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle officially became part of the Cheltenham Festival in 2005, when it expanded to become a four-day event.

Initially, the race was entered into the Festival as a Grade 2 contest and was titled the Brit Insurance Hurdle. This changed in 2008, when it was promoted to Grade 1 status and the sponsorship was taken over by Albert Bartlett, a vegetable growing company.

Initially, the race was open to horses aged four and over. However, this changed in 2023 and now four-year-olds are excluded.

Recent years

Since its addition to the Festival in 2005, Willie Mullins is the only trainer who’s had three winners in the race: Penhill (2017), Monkfish (2020) and The Nice Guy (2022).
On top of this, only one other trainer has trained multiple winners of the Albert Bartlett. This is Jonjo O’Neill, who trained Black Jack Ketchum (2006) and Wichita Lineman (2007).

For O’Neill’s two victories, both horses were ridden by AP McCoy, who has won the race three times, more than any other jockey (he also won the race in 2013 aboard At Fishers Cross).

The 2019 renewal of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle was particularly memorable. At massive odds of 50/1, Rachael Blackmore became the second woman to ride a Grade 1 winner at the Festival when she steered Minella Indo to success for Henry De Bromhead.

Previous Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Winners

This table below contains a breakdown of all of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle winners from the last decade. Can you spot any patterns that will help you pick the winner of this year’s race?

Year Winner Age SP Trainer Jockey
2023 Stay Away Fay 6 18/1 Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden
2022 The Nice Guy 7 18/1 Willie Mullins Sean O'Keeffe
2021 Vanillier 6 14/1 Gavin Cromwell Mark Walsh
2020 Monkfish 6 5/1 Willie Mullins Paul Townend
2019 Minella Indo 6 50/1 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore
2018 Kilbricken Storm 7 33/1 Colin Tizzard Harry Cobden
2017 Penhill 6 16/1 Willie Mullins Paul Townend
2016 Unowhatimeanharry 8 11/1 Harry Fry Noel Fehily
2015 Martello Tower 7 14/1 Margaret Mullins Adrian Heskin
2014 Very Wood 5 33/1 Noel Meade Paul Carberry
2013 At Fishers Cross 6 11/8 Rebecca Curtis A P McCoy

Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle FAQs

Finding Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Tips