2025 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle: Where are they now? The Cheltenham Festival’s novice hurdles are some of the better races of the week and aren’t to be missed. We’re always on the lookout for the next stars and the novice division provides horses with the opportunity to hone their craft. Run over three miles, the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle is a Grade 1 race and a field of 20 went to post for the 2025 renewal. We’re going to take a look at where there are now and which horses could be set for the big time. Jasmin takes the win Willie Mullins’ Jasmin De Vaux saw the three-mile trip out very well to score by two-and-a-half lengths. He also went on to get the better of Aintree Grade 1 winner Honesty Policy at Punchestown, but will be missing the season after an injury setback. The Big Westerner came into the race off the back of victory in a Grade 2 at Limerick and clearly possesses an abundance of stamina. She was second on her first start over fences and will improve for the run and the return to staying trips. Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore’s Derryhassen Paddy ran an absolute cracker to finish third. He was well beaten, despite going off at 5/6, on his first start over fences last month and needs to improve significantly on that effort. Beaten horses to watch British runners Yellow Car, Wendigo, Jig's Forge and Ma Shantou finished fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh respectively. The latter has since won a competitive handicap hurdle at Cheltenham and could be useful in that sphere. Jig’s Forge has been comfortably beaten in two starts since, but there should be more to come from Ben Pauling’s six-year-old, while Wendigo is a Grade 2 winner over fences this season and Jamie Snowden’s gelding is obviously a useful prospect. Fourth-placed Yellow Car hasn’t been seen since but may well be worth adding to your trackers. Jax Junior pulled up before the last flight, but he went on to win at Cheltenham a month later and also destroyed Jeriko Du Reponet over fences at Kempton this season. Wingmen also pulled up and was a little disappointing but he could be useful in handicaps. He has contested two warm beginners’ chases at Navan this season and could be one for the novice handicap chase at Cheltenham in March. The Mullins squad Sounds Victorius was the second Mullins runner to finish and he came eighth. We’re yet to see him again and we’re not sure what to expect from the six-year-old. Port Joulain is much better on testing ground and was admittedly disappointing. Chasing is on the agenda for him. Inn At The Park and Argento Boy finished 13th and 14th and the former is unfortunately no longer with us. The latter was a touch disappointing at Cheltenham in Aintree, but produced a slightly improved performance to finish fifth at Punchestown and is set to try chasing. Fishery Lane didn’t make it round at Cheltenham and has already made a start to his chasing career. Handicaps could be the play for this horse. Other runners Jet Blue was well fancied after easily winning a trial at Cheltenham beforehand, but the French raider could only manage ninth. He improved to finish second in the Grand Prix d'Automne and we shouldn’t write him off. Native Hill, Intense Approach, Flicker Of Hope and First Confession all pulled up on the day, but two of them have already won over fences this season and it would be no surprise if the other two go chasing sooner rather than later.
