2.50 2m. 7f. 213yds. 16 Declared. Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1 ) of £139,825.00 4-y-o plus
1st - €78,680.00 2nd - €29,643.00 3rd - €14,835.00 4th - €7,411.00 5th - €3,719.00 6th - €1,860.00 7th - €923.00 8th - €475.00
FormscanBy Tom Weekes - GINTO is proven at the top level and should see out staying distances. A point-to-point winner, he has shaped like a stayer over hurdles and was a good winner of a January Grade 1. Minella Cocooner is a proven high-class stayer and interestingly, on a form-line through Hollow Games (third to both horses recently) is closely matched with the selection, albeit is possibly a trifle less classy. Shantreusse has proven stamina and while testing conditions would play to his strengths, should be fine on a sounder surface but steps up from his Clonmel win and was beaten in a bumper by GINTO. The Nice Guy is unbeaten but steps up to this level for the first time while Bardenstown Lad is a course and distance winner who also faces his tougher task. Hillcrest lacks fluency jumping and would be better suited by more testing conditions, but is a dour stayer.