Festival Focus - Albert Bartlett

Gree-t Expectations - Coneygree looks massively overpriced for the Albert Bartlett

The Albert Bartlett is the pre-cursor to the Gold Cup on the final day of the festival, but over the past few years the race has thrown up a few horses that have gone on to mix it in Gold Cup company down the road, not least this year’s ante-post favourite for the Gold Cup Bobs Worth who took the race in 2011.

Last year saw the ill-fated Brindisi Breeze gallop his opponents in to the ground and it is highly likely we could see a similar sort of display this year too.

Like so many festival races many of the perceived leading protagonists in the race could end up elsewhere yet, and more so than many of the other races there looks a very real possibility that the Albert Bartlett could completely fall apart.

Pont Alexandre looks more likely to go for the Neptune (for which he is a short priced favourite) as does Taquin Du Seuil. Champagne Fever would too seem an unlikely contender at this point as in spite of getting his career back on track recently with another Grade 1 win last year’s Champion Bumper winner has seemed better suited to two and a half miles.

I absolutely adore Gevrey Chambertin and although I would love to see him contest this I have my suspicions that he may be aimed at one of the more valuable handicaps during the week, several of which he holds entries in.

If Grands Crus’ full brother were to line-up here I’d give him an outstanding each-way chance, as he has always looked a future superstar but I’m going to proceed on the basis he does go down the handicap route.

My idea of the winner of this race has always been Coneygree and I’ve backed him for the race at considerably shorter than he is now.