Albert Bartlett dark horses - 'Currently as big as 80-1' The Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle completes the Cheltenham Festival's trio of Grade 1 novice contests and is the final race before the Gold Cup itself on Friday, March 14th. The three-miler is a notoriously tough challenge for the contenders. Heading the ante-post market is Dublin Racing Festival scorer Final Demand, although trainer Willie Mullins has indicated his preference would be to aim somewhere else. Gordon Elliott has the second favourite, The Yellow Clay, winner of the Grade 1 Lawlor's of Naas in January. With the field yet to take real shape, we're picking out three horses that could be lively outsiders in the Albert Bartlett. Derryhassen Paddy Irish-bred Derryhassen Paddy has won a point-to-point, a bumper and two contests over hurdles and is on track for this Festival target. He joined the Lucinda Russell team ahead of landing a bumper at Ayr on heavy ground last February and bagged a 2m4f maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter on soft going in November. He made his biggest statement to date in winning the 3m Berkshire Winter Million Novices' Hurdle at Windsor in January, knuckling down to hold off Dan Skelton's Honky Tonk Highway after they had pulled clear of the field. There is plenty to like about how he goes about his business and the fact he is comfortable up on the pace is no bad thing in this race. Most pleasing was that when the gauntlet was thrown down at Windsor, he put his head down and battled to win, a trait that should serve him well for this rise in class. Ma Shantou Emma Lavelle's Ma Shantou began this season in promising fashion over hurdles, winning at Warwick (2m5f, good to soft) and Windsor (2m4f, good to soft) after having finished second behind the useful Celtic Dino in maiden company at Wincanton over a shorter trip in October. Those efforts were enough to see him start favourite for the Grade 2 River Don Novices' Hurdle at Doncaster in January as he tackled three miles for the first time. Held up under Rex Dingle, he tried to challenge from three out and looked to be fading before putting on a good spurt after the final flight. He couldn't get back on terms with front pair Yellow Car and Moon Rocket but he should have learned plenty from it and could have more to come over this extended trip. Quebecois Paul Nicholls' Festival team isn't going to be as strong as in bygone times but the Ditcheat handler will be keen to uncover some chances. Quebecois impressed at Chepstow on his hurdling bow over 2m3½f (soft) in October and has since run well in defeat in a pair of Graded novices' at Sandown and Cheltenham over two and a half miles. It was a decent contest in which he was fourth at Cheltenham on Trials Day, with Sixmilebridge seeing off hitherto unbeaten Potters Charm. Quebecois is a half-brother to Brindisi Breeze, who won the Albert Bartlett in 2012, and could have more to come when stepping up in trip. Nicholls confirmed after his debut win that 'he's in that sort of Stage Star, Hermes Allen bracket' and he could be tempted with this step up in trip for Quebecois, who is currently as big as 80/1 for the Albert Bartlett, considering those aforementioned horses struggled in Grade 1s at the Festival over shorter trips despite their exploits en route to Cheltenham. Get €60 in FREE BETS with the BetVictor sign up offer:
