The Spa Novices' Hurdle, known for sponsorship purposes as the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles (2 miles 7 furlongs and 213 yards, or 4,822 metres), and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped. The race is for novice hurdlers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Spa Novices' Hurdle
(Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle)
Grade 1 race
LocationCheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham, England
Inaugurated2005
Race typeHurdle race
SponsorAlbert Bartlett
WebsiteCheltenham
Race information
Distance2m 7f 213y (4,822 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFive-years-old and up
Weight11 st 7 lb
Allowances
7 lb for fillies and mares
Purse£135,000 (2023)
1st: £75,965
Spa Novices' Hurdle
2024
Maroon, white star and armlet, white cap Dark blue, royal blue seams, white sleeves, red and white striped cap YELLOW and BLACK check, YELLOW sleeves, BLACK cap
Stellar Story The Jukebox Man Dancing City
Previous years
2023
Pink, large purple spots, hooped sleeves Black, red chevrons, black sleeves, red cap, black star Red, white cross of lorraine and sleeves
Stay Away Fay Affordale Fury Sandor Clegane
2022
Black and white check, yellow sleeves, black and white quartered cap Purple, black star and sleeves, white cap Light blue, purple stars, light blue cap, purple star
The Nice Guy Minella Cocooner Bardenstown Lad
2021
Red, yellow cross of lorraine and armlets, red and dark blue striped cap Orange, pink hoop and armlets, hooped cap Light blue, purple stars, light blue cap, purple star
Vanillier Oscar Elite Streets Of Doyen
2020-2011
2020
Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap Purple, yellow hoop, grey sleeves, purple cap, yellow star Maroon, White star, armlets and cap
Monkfish Latest Exhibition Fury Road
2019
Maroon, yellow stars, maroon sleeves, striped cap maroon, white star, white armlets and cap Red, white sash, royal blue cap
Minella Indo Commander Of Fleet Allaho
2018
Red, light green star and star on cap Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Grey, white epaulets
Kilbricken Storm Ok Corral Santini
2017
Royal blue, white seams, white and royal blue hooped cap Maroon, yellow stars, maroon sleeves, striped cap Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green and emerald green quartered cap
Penhill Monalee Wholestone
2016
Dark green, white hoops, dark green sleeves, red armlets, red cap Dark blue and white diamonds, white sleeves, red cap Orange, dark blue star, orange sleeves, dark blue stars, dark blue cap
Unowhatimeanharry Fagan Champers on Ice
2015
Yellow, dark blue sash, dark blue cap, yellow star Maroon, white star and armlets, blue cap Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap
Martello Tower Milsean No More Heroes
2014
Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap Red and white check, white cap Dark blue, yellow diamond and sleeves, royal blue cap, red diamond
Very Wood Deputy Dan Apache Jack
2013
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Royal blue and grey diamonds, quartered cap Dark blue, large white spots and sleeves
At Fishers Cross African Gold Inish Island
2012
Black, purple sleeves, white armlets, white cap Black and beige (halved), chevrons on sleeves, beige cap Yellow, black chevron, check cap
Brindisi Breeze Boston Bob Grand Vision
2011
Navy blue, scarlet stripe and cap White, black cap Black, black and pink check cap
Bobs Worth Mossley Court in Motion
2010-2005
2010
Dark blue and light blue check, white sleeves, check cap Royal blue, red sleeves, white spots, red cap, white spots Emerald green, orange triple diamond, diamonds on sleeves and diamonds on cap
Berties Dream Najaf Kennel Hill
2009
Maroon, white star and armlets, maroon cap, white star White, dark blue cross belts, white and red check sleeves, red cap Black, white epaulets, white chevrons on sleeves, black cap
Weapon's Amnesty Pride of Dulcote The Midnight Club
2008
Dark Green, Yellow sash, halved sleeves, quartered cap Dark Green, Purple inverted triangle, Orange sleeves, Light Green and Orange quartered cap Red, White cross belts, hooped sleeves and star on cap
Nenuphar Collonges Liskennett The Tother One
2007
Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap Black, light blue star, light blue sleeves, black stars, light blue cap Dark Blue, Beige seams, hooped sleeves and cap
Wichita Lineman Air Force One Itsa Legend
2006
White, mauve stars Maroon, yellow inverted triangle, yellow chevrons on sleeves, black cap White, maroon spots, maroon diamond on cap
Black Jack Ketchum Powerstation Travino
2005
Orange, white hoops on body Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots Black and Yellow diamonds, checked sleeves, Yellow cap
Moulin Riche Over The Creek Brewster
 

It was one of several new races introduced at the Festival when a fourth day was added to the meeting in 2005. For its first three runnings the event was sponsored by Brit Insurance, and it was classed at Grade 2 level. The vegetable growing company Albert Bartlett began supporting the race in 2008, and since then it has held Grade 1 status. The race was originally open to horses aged four years or older, but since 2023 four year olds have been excluded.

Records

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Leading jockey (3 wins):

  • Tony McCoyBlack Jack Ketchum (2006), Wichita Lineman (2007) At Fishers Cross (2013)

Leading trainer (3 wins):

  • Willie MullinsPenhill (2017), Monkfish (2020), The Nice Guy (2022)

Winners

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Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
2005 Moulin Riche 5 Robert Thornton François Doumen
2006 Black Jack Ketchum 7 Tony McCoy Jonjo O'Neill
2007 Wichita Lineman 6 Tony McCoy Jonjo O'Neill
2008 Nenuphar Collonges 7 Robert Thornton Alan King
2009 Weapon's Amnesty 6 Davy Russell Charles Byrnes
2010 Berties Dream 7 Andrew Lynch Paul John Gilligan
2011 Bobs Worth 6 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
2012 Brindisi Breeze 6 Campbell Gillies Lucinda Russell
2013 At Fishers Cross 6 Tony McCoy Rebecca Curtis
2014 Very Wood 5 Paul Carberry Noel Meade
2015 Martello Tower 7 Adrian Heskin Margaret Mullins
2016 Unowhatimeanharry 8 Noel Fehily Harry Fry
2017 Penhill 6 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2018 Kilbricken Storm 7 Harry Cobden Colin Tizzard
2019 Minella Indo 6 Rachael Blackmore Henry de Bromhead
2020 Monkfish 6 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2021 Vanillier 6 Mark Walsh Gavin Cromwell
2022 The Nice Guy 7 Sean O'Keeffe Willie Mullins
2023 Stay Away Fay 6 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls
2024 Stellar Story 7 Sam Ewing Gordon Elliott

See also

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References

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