By Friday afternoon at Cheltenham the roar has gone a shade hoarser, the nerves a bit tighter, and along comes a race that tests both to destruction – the 2026 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at 3:20pm.
Over three miles and with twelve hurdles on the New Course, this is the festival’s toughest young stayers. It is still officially the Spa Novices’ Hurdle, but everyone knows it as the Albert Bartlett, the race that has a habit of turning raw novices into future Grade 1 stars.
This year’s renewal brings together a field with a maximum 22-runner limit, Irish and British yards mob‑handed and a market headed, unsurprisingly, by Willie Mullins.
Stamina, balance on the undulating New Course, and a cool head when they swing for home will matter at least as much as ratings.
Mullins Mob and the Market Leaders
It will surprise nobody that Willie Mullins has the strongest numerical hand in this year’s race, and the betting echoes that.
Doctor Steinberg, partnered by Paul Townend, heads the market after three consecutive hurdle wins that includes a smooth Grade 2 success at Navan and a taking Grade 1 performance at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Behind him in the Mullins battalion sits Espresso Milan, who arrives here with form that suggests there is still a bit of improvement to come.
Stablemate Hipop De Loire brings a slightly older profile at nine but a stout staying background; he has already shown he can win over trips around this distance, and Harry Cobden is an interesting booking for a horse who may be ridden patiently.
Gordon Elliott counters with a powerful trio headed by Kazansky and Spinningayarn. Kazansky has done little wrong this season, and Spinningayarn is fresh from a couple of wins and with odds short enough to put him close to the favourites but still long enough to offer value.
Gavin Cromwell’s The Passing Wife is another towards the front of the market, with solid graded form and a likeable, uncomplicated way of going.
He has mixed it in strong company in Ireland, putting her right in the sweet spot that recent Albert Bartlett winners have often occupied.
Albert Bartlett Odds
*Odds from Betfred correct at time of publishing
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor Steinberg | Paul Townend | W P Mullins | 11/4 |
| Thedeviluno | Sean O’Keeffe | Paul Nolan | 13/2 |
| The Passing Wife | Keith Donoghue | Gavin Cromwell | 9/1 |
| Espresso Milan | Mr P W Mullins | W P Mullins | 14/1 |
| Mondoui’boy | Ben Jones | Ben Pauling | 14/1 |
| Moneygarrow | Harry Skelton | Dan Skelton | 14/1 |
| Spinningayarn | Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott | 14/1 |
| Jalon D’oudairies | Danny Gilligan | Gordon Elliott | 18/1 |
| Kazansky | Jordan Gainford | Gordon Elliott | 18/1 |
| Kripticjim | Brendan Powell | Joe Tizzard | 20/1 |
| King’s Bucks | Darragh O’Keeffe | Henry De Bromhead | 22/1 |
| Hipop De Loire | Harry Cobden | W P Mullins | 25/1 |
| Ubatuba | Ben Sutton | Olly Murphy | 25/1 |
| Doctor Du Mesnil | Danny Mullins | W P Mullins | 28/1 |
| Johnny’s Jury | Gavin Sheehan | Jamie Snowden | 28/1 |
| Fruit De Mer | Sean Flanagan | Henry De Bromhead | 33/1 |
| Road Exile | Sam Ewing | Gordon Elliott | 40/1 |
| Tackletommywoowoo | Mr D L Queally | Declan Queally | 50/1 |
| Park Princess | Sam Twiston-Davies | Anthony Honeyball | 50/1 |
| Swindon Village | David Bass | Charlie Longsdon | 80/1 |
| The Price Of Peace | Sean Bowen | Rebecca Curtis | 100/1 |
| Kicour La | Callum Pritchard | Ben Pauling | 100/1 |
Home Hopes and Lively Outsiders
Britain’s team may lack a standout short‑priced favourite in this year’s Albert Bartlett, but there is depth and a few who look tailor‑made for a test like this.
Joe Tizzard’s Kripticjim has quietly put together a series of wins, including over course and distance, and his enthusiasm for Cheltenham is a plus in a race where some novices simply do not cope with the track.
Dan Skelton’s Moneygarrow and Ben Pauling’s Mondoui’boy are both six‑year‑olds on the up who have gradually worked their way through the ranks this season, picking up experience in big fields that should stand them in good stead.
Among the bigger prices, Park Princess catches the eye as a mare who has been busy, improving, and already proven over a trip, while still receiving the mares’ allowance.
Swindon Village has done nothing but run honestly in staying events and represents a yard that knows what it takes to get a horse fit for Cheltenham.
You could make a similar case for Road Exile, a Gigginstown runner with form in useful Irish contests and the sort of battling attitude that tends to be needed when the race begins to sort itself out, turning for home.
All of that underlines a familiar message with the Albert Bartlett: experience and toughness count. This is rarely stolen by an unexposed hype horse who has only seen small fields and pretty ground.
Win and Each‑way Tips
From a win perspective, it is hard to look too far beyond Doctor Steinberg, who has the best blend of graded form and progressive profile.
He should stay, he jumps soundly enough, and if the ground is not bottomless he looks the most likely to travel strongly into it and find again up the hill.
For those playing each‑way, Thedeviluno makes plenty of appeal as a tough, consistent type. Kazansky is another for the shortlist, given his solid Irish form and a rating that suggests he can match most in the field if the cards fall his way.
At a bigger price, Park Princess looks the sort of hardy mare who could outrun her odds by creeping into the frame late.
However you approach it – win bet on the leading Irish fancy, a couple of each‑way darts at the tougher stayers, or just watching with a cup of tea and a sympathetic glance at the sponsors’ root vegetables – the 2026 Albert Bartlett again promises a proper three‑mile examination for novices with serious futures.
BETFRED
