5 novice hurdlers to keep in mind for Cheltenham

The Cheltenham Festival is looming large on the horizon once more and the countdown is starting to intensify. Here we are taking a look at some of the novice hurdlers to potentially look out for at the Cheltenham Festival from Tuesday March 11 — Friday March 14.

Romeo Coolio

Gordon Elliott's Romeo Coolio has strong form in the book from the first half of the season and should be a major contender for Grade 1 glory in the Cotswolds.

He's got both the curtain-raising Supreme Novices' Hurdle and the longer 2m5f Turners Novices' Hurdle as options, and staying at the minimum trip looks preferable.

He was an easy winner on debut over timber at Down Royal in November and while surprisingly beaten at Fairyhouse in the Royal Bond, his Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle win at Leopardstown over Christmas created a strong impression.

The Yellow Clay

Another contender from the Cullentra team is The Yellow Clay, who is four-from-four over hurdles following his win in the Grade 1 Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle in early January.

The Bective Stud-owned six-year-old has scored on ground ranging from good-to-yielding to soft and over trips from 2m4f-2m6½f.

Elliott feels he is improving with each outing and suggested he won at Naas despite 'hating' the conditions underfoot.

The Turners Novices' Hurdle (2m5f) and the Albert Bartlett (3m) are options come March and this stamina-laden sort could be a major contender in the latter.

Potters Charm

Potters Charm will have been marked down by many after suffering defeat on Cheltenham Trials Day but the Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies-trained inmate is not one to cast aside.

He finished second to Sixmilebridge, a promising sort in his own right, and rider Sam Twiston-Davies said Potters Charm felt below par from early on.

He was 4-4 over hurdles and had won a Grade 1 at Aintree over Christmas on his previous start and the 2m5f Turners Novices' Hurdle remains the target, with his price having doubled in the wake of Trials Day defeat.

"It was never in the pipeline to run, I looked at the entries on Monday and saw the race and decided to go," Willy Twiston-Davies told the Racing Post whilst suggesting 'full responsibility' for the defeat was his. Potters Charm might be under the radar in many corners for now.

Derryhassen Paddy

A dark horse for the Albert Bartlett could be Derryhassen Paddy for the Lucinda Russell team. The Scottish trainer suggested earlier in the season that this strapping individual 'has the potential to get to a good level' after winning his only bumper last spring.

He's now won two from two since going over hurdles, scoring over 2m4f at Uttoxeter in November and then over 3m on soft ground at Windsor in the Berkshire Winter Million Novices' Hurdle.

Craig Nichol had to get serious with Derryhassen Paddy going to two out that afternoon and they were a length-and-a-half down after the last as Honky Tonk Highway appeared to be getting the better of things.

Short of room up the running rail, Derryhassen Paddy barged through and stuck his neck out to win. He'll have learned plenty and his tough constitution would serve him well in something like the Albert Bartlett.

Wendigo

The Albert Bartlett is attritional on any ground but more so if rain gets into the Cheltenham turf, conditions that might suit Wendigo, a 50/1 poke, in the 3m novice contest.

He was absolutely no match for The New Lion in the Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury over Christmas but stayed on to be second-best.

Dan Skelton's charge is unlikely to be turning up on Festival Friday for the three-miler but this Jamie Snowden-trainer gelding just might. He won over 2m4f at Ludlow (good) on his second hurdles start before his Challow second in Grade 1 company.

Going up in distance will aid him, seemingly, and he is a heavy-ground bumper winner so ease in the ground could be a major positive too.