Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Odds: The Big Westerner tipped for historic victory

The Gold Cup may be the centrepiece of day four (Friday) at the Cheltenham Festival but there are six other fascinating races to enjoy. One of them is the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, in which 20 runners have been declared.

Henry de Bromhead boasts the favourite currently, and the Waterford-based trainer last saddled a winner in 2019 with Minella Indo. Below you will find the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle odds for 2025.

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Odds

The Big Westerner @ 9/2

De Bromhead is hoping for a return to the winners enclosure with The Big Westerner, who shares blood with the 2023 champion, Stay Away Fay, for Paul Nicholls. The Big Westerner is currently unbeaten over hurdles and showed great stamina in her latest triumph at Limerick.

Darragh O'Keefe has been in the saddle for the last two rides and the pair will link up again at Prestbury Park on Friday. It's one thing being the favourite, it's another to become the first mare to win this race. Can we witness a piece of history at the Festival?

Jasmin De Vaux @ 15/2

Willie Mullins-trained Jasmin De Vaux is the second favourite presently, and the Closutton maestro is seeking his first win in this race since 2022 with The Nice Guy. Jasmin De Vaux looks a good prospect because she won the Champion Bumper here 12 months ago.

Hasn't looked settled since switching to hurdles but no one can question his engine. Should Mullins get smooth jumps from him here, Paul Townend has a great chance of steering the six-year-old to victory.

Jet Blue @ 15/2

This gelding won on his first start since switching trainers in December. Days after coming under the stewardship of David Cottin, Jet Blue won at Cheltenham over hurdles in a Grade 2 trip of 3m. He made quite the impression and that experience on this track could serve him well at Prestbury Park this time around, as it has for many previous winners.

The six-year-old is going to be tough to overlook here. One to watch.

Cheltenham Betting Odds

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Wendigo @ 8/1

Jamie Snowden-trained Wendigo could be another notable contender following his impressive run at Newbury in the Grade 1 Challow. He finished second behind The New Lion, who won the Turners' Novices Hurdle at the Festival on Wednesday.

Wendigo stayed on well in that race and that could serve him well on his first appearance at Cheltenham. The slightly longer trip could play into his hands because of his stamina.

Wingmen @ 8/1

Gordon Elliott's Wingmen grabbed peoples' attention in a 2m6f Grade 1 in his last appearance at Leopardstown. He finished second behind the impressive Final Demand and he stayed on well. This means he shouldn't be fazed by the large field here and he can put himself in the running.

Elliott will be looking to go back-to-back in this race after Stellar Story secured him this prize for the first time in 2024. The seven-year-old is expected to run a strong race and many of his connections are fancying his chances.

Derryhassen Paddy @ 11/1

Derryhassen Paddy will be hoping to return success in this race to trainer Lucinda Russell, who last saddled a winner in 2012 with Brindisi Breeze. Derryhassen Paddy is unbeaten under rules but is accustomed to soft or heavy ground.

The six-year-old looks like one to keep an eye on in the future, and his ceiling will only rise with a victory here, which comes on the new course. His yard rates him highly and they have already landed one winner at the Festival this week with Myretown.

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