Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle Betting Preview – Cheltenham Day 4 Tips (2025)

The Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle is the fourth race on Day 4 of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival and 20 runners have been declared for one of the biggest horse racing betting heats of the season.

We’ve known the early entries for the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle for some time now but decisions have been made and all eyes will be on Prestbury Park on Friday afternoon.

Here, we look at some of the leading players in the Cheltenham odds for this year’s race, with an Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle selection ahead of the 2025 renewal.

One of the many races at the festival for novices, the Albert Bartlett is often a springboard on to bigger and better things.

Run over a distance of just shy of three miles (two miles, seven furlongs and 213 yards), it’s a fair old test for the novices that take part.

Connections of The Big Westerner are excited by the chances of their unbeaten Cheltenham Festival hope.

She won her sole point-to-point start before making her Rules debut for Henry de Bromhead in a Punchestown maiden hurdle over an extended two miles five and landed that nicely.

She was then stepped up in trip and class for a Grade Two at Limerick over Christmas, readily accounted for Mozzies Sister who has franked the form since.

With her 7lb mares allowance, it’s easy to see why she is one of the betting market favourites.

Last season’s Champion Bumper winner JASMIN DE VAUX will have to jump more slickly than he did at Leopardstown in February to take Grade One honours here, particularly given the level of ability of his rivals in this 3m hurdle.

Totally going for him in this race is his power, best exemplified by his strong staying performance at Cheltenham last season when he flew home  to nab Romeo Coolio to win by a length and three-quarters.

Owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede have enjoyed many Cheltenham winners over the years and would dearly love another.

French trainer David Cottin witnessed his Jet Blue powering up the Cheltenham hill to claim the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett at the December meeting, and the six-year-old returns to try and repeat the same feat in the big one itself.

Jet Blue was making a winning debut for the David Cottin team in December, but he had shown plenty of form for his previous trainer Hugo Merienne, finishing third in a Grade 1 AQPS event at Longchamp before winning a conditions hurdle at Auteuil in October.

Trainer Jamie Snowden sees Wendigo as one sure to be suited by a step up to three miles in the Albert Bartlett.

Wendigo was a dual bumper winner and has taken well to flights, with a runner-up finish behind The New Lion in the Grade 1 Challow coming in between easy victories at Ludlow and Wetherby.

The 4000 shareholders of this horse could well have a Gold Cup Day they will never forget.

John McConnell’s Intense Approach has been a revelation of a horse to his owners thus far, winning six times and finishing runner up another three, and that’s all from just 12 runs.

His more recent Musselburgh victory in the Scottish Stayers’ Novices’ Hurdle has been well endorsed by third horse Bold Light, who went on to land a handicap at Kelso.

The mount of champion jump jockey “elect” Sean Bowen, Intense Approach looks a tad overpriced at odds of 12/1.

SELECTION: JASMIN DE VAUX (WIN)