ALBERT BARTLETT NOVICES’ HURDLE

Stamina has to work in a race

This is the Grade 1 staying novice hurdle on the New Course. Look for a horse that settles and travels economically enough to use its stamina when it matters. A strong finish is encouraging, but assess what happened before it and how much pressure the horse faced.

A slowly run three-mile race does not answer the same questions as a sustained gallop. Conversely, a horse beaten over a shorter trip may have shown that it wants more time to build its effort. Make the connection through the performance rather than through a convenient label.

Experience can be valuable without becoming a rule

A novice that has raced in competitive company may have learned to cope with crowding, pace changes and being challenged. That is useful evidence. It does not prove that a less experienced horse lacks the ability to handle those situations.

Watch the jumping late in previous races. Does technique remain sound when the horse tires? Is it still responding to its rider? A performance that looks brave on paper may have involved errors which become more costly against better opposition.

Do not reduce the race to an outsider hunt

The history of surprising Festival results can tempt punters to reject obvious contenders simply because they are short in the market. That reverses the analysis. Assess the horses first, then decide whether the prices properly reflect their chances.

For a bigger-priced runner, identify a concrete case: stronger form than the result suggests, a more suitable trip, or conditions likely to help. A large price is not evidence by itself. Nor does a pedigree promising stamina remove the need to examine how the horse actually races.

Previous renewals

The 2027 runners

No live prices or confirmed 2027 runner list are presented in this guide. Reviewed 11 November 2026.