Saturday afternoon sees the conclusion of the 2024 Cheltenham Christmas Meeting, as the Gloucester track lays on a cracking seven-race card for our punting pleasure. The December Gold Cup tops the betting bill, but there is much to look forward to elsewhere, including this high-class event for the up-and-coming staying hurdlers.
Officially registered as The Bristol Novices’ Hurdle, sponsorship reasons lend this event an identical title to the big Grade 1 on Gold Cup day in March. Not too many winners have followed up in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle itself, but with the roll of honour featuring the names of future Grand National, Stayers Hurdle, and Cheltenham Gold Cup champs, this event is well worth tuning in to.
Following the final declarations, we know that one of the following seven challengers will add their name to the list in 2024:
1. Jet Blue – 9/2 with bet365
Trainer: David Cottin
The French are yet to land this prize, but David Cottin will arrive with high hopes for this five-year-old son of Martaline. A Grade 2 Bumper winner, when based with Alain Couetil, Jet Blue, went down by just ¾l in a Grade 1 1m4f event at Longchamp in September when in the care of Hugo Merienne. Only once outside the first three in four starts over hurdles, the form of his close second to Ain’t Got Wings reads well, with that horse going on to land a Listed event by 5l. He adds an intriguing international element to the field but must overcome a 5lb penalty picked up for his win at Auteuil.
2. Skyjack Hijack– 2/1 with bet365
Trainer: Jennie Candish
There may be a more improved Novice Hurdler in training than this Jennie Candish star, but we can’t think of them off the top of our heads. On the 22nd of July 2024, Skyjack Hijack boasted a record of zero wins from five outings and a mediocre rating of 96. How things can change in the space of a few months! Breaking his duck at Cartmel in August, this rapid improver went on to win each of his next five to climb fully three stones in the handicap. Moving out of handicap company two starts ago, he has landed a pair of weight-for-age novice contests by a combined distance of 35½l. There’s no doubt that he has earned his place in Graded company, and he may not have finished improving yet.
3. Western Knight – 4/1 with bet365
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien
Colin Tizzard claimed this prize three times during his training career. His son Joe bids to follow in his footprints with this son of Westerner. Kicking off with a solid second on Bumper debut at Plumpton in 2022/23, his sole outing in the 2023/24 season resulted in a 33l beating at Plumpton. It was, therefore, tough to know what to expect when the horse made his hurdles debut in November. Starting at odds of 22/1, the market didn’t point to a bold showing. However, that didn’t prevent Western Knight from winning with far more authority than the 3/4l winning margin would imply. Backing that up with a gritty success at Ascot, he’s heading in the right direction ahead of his biggest test to date.
4. Aboutdamntime – 8/1 with bet365
Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
The first of two runners in the field who lined up in a Cragmore Point-to-Point in January 2024. Aboutdamntime managed only second that day but wasted no time getting off the mark under rules. It’s tough to assess the merits of that Carlisle success. However, the third-placed runner did his bit for the form when scoring by 7½l next time, whilst the runner-up again finished second in a Class 3 at Bangor. There may be more to come, but on the balance of his limited form, he will need it.
5. Clondaw General– 10/3 with bet365
Trainer: Kim Bailey
Next up, the horse who finished 3½l clear of Aboutdamntime in that Cragmore Point to Point.
2¾l too good for his reopposing rival that day, Clondaw General made a successful debut under rules when claiming a Class 3 event at Worcester by 2¾l. He saw off the 127-rated Autonomous Cloud by 8¼l that day, suggesting he could be in the mix in a field where the top-rated Skyjack Hijack sits on a mark of 138.
6. Stop Loss – 50/1 with bet365
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien
The rank outsider in the field is very difficult to assess. Making his debut in March 2023, he finished a well-beaten fourth in a Hereford Bumper and hasn’t run since. The fact that he is pitched straight into this suggests he must be showing something at home, but he’s opposable on his first start in 631 days.
7. Yellow Car – 25/1 with bet365
Trainer: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson
A Point-to-Point winner in May, this son of Malinas hasn’t done much wrong since setting out under rules. Boasting hurdle form figures of 1215, the only disappointment came over an inadequate 2m3½f last time out at Doncaster. However, the quality of the races he has contested falls a little short of the required standard, and a mark of 124 suggests he may be up against it.
The Verdict
It would be great to see Skyjack Hijack continue his ascent for his relatively small yard. However, there are a couple of reasons to take him on. Firstly, this is a significant step up in class. Secondly, his five wide-margin wins have come on genuinely good ground. Form figures of 37221 on going containing the word soft in the description suggest he may not be quite as effective on the forecast good to soft ground.
Of the others, the talents of Stop Loss are known only to his trainer, Yellow Car has a lot to find, and Aboutdamntime was no match for Clondaw General in their Point-to-Point clash. Jet Blue is a possible fly in the ointment, given the difficulty of placing the French form in context, whilst Western Knight may have more to offer. However, the one to be on is the unbeaten in two starts Clondaw General. We have really liked what we have seen from this son of Milan to date, and with each of his wins having come on soft, he should cope with conditions and could be the type of dour stayer to get to grips with Skyjack Hijack.
Recommended Bet: Clondaw General to win @ 10/3 with bet365
Paul Harrison
Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.
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