Summary

  1. 'A classy individual'published at 15:32 Greenwich Mean Time

    15:20 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle

    Winning jockey Paul Townend tells ITV Racing: “He takes a bit of warming up but he is a classy individual.

    “A lot of this is confidence and getting in a rhythm with him.

    “Every winner here is special but we will move on to the next one (Galopin Des Champs)."

  2. Resultpublished at 15:31 Greenwich Mean Time

    15:20 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle

    1 Jasmin De Vaux (P Townend) 6-1

    2 The Big Westerner (D J O'Keeffe) 9-2 Fav

    3 Derryhassen Paddy (D R Fox) 10-1

    20 ran

  3. 'Unstoppable'published at 15:29 Greenwich Mean Time

    15:20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 3m

    Charlie Poste
    Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Unstoppable. Paul Townend was brilliant on Jasmin De Vaux.

  4. Jasmin De Vaux winspublished at 15:27 Greenwich Mean Time
    Breaking

    15:20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 3m

    Four wins from four for Willie Mullins!

    Another excellent ride by Paul Townend, bringing his horse right from the back of the field to the very front in double quick time.

    It was a real head to head between him and The Big Westerner after the final hurdle, but the mare looked to tire in the final strides.

    And with that, Mullins is up to 10 wins at the Festival. And he has Galopin des Champs to come next...

  5. Postpublished at 15:26 Greenwich Mean Time

    15:20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 3m

    It's a two horse race on the final straight - Jasmin De Vaux v The Big Westerner!

  6. Postpublished at 15:26 Greenwich Mean Time

    15:20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 3m

    Ooh, The Big Westerner got caught up in midfield there. The favourite has little room to manouvre.

    Here comes Jasmin De Vaux!

  7. Postpublished at 15:25 Greenwich Mean Time

    15:20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 3m

    Charlie Poste
    Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Wendigo has had a tough trip but he's only a couple behind now.

  8. Postpublished at 15:25 Greenwich Mean Time

    15:20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 3m

    Jet Blue, third favourite who we have seen little from, is starting to make a move from the back.

    As is Jasmin De Vaux. Now is when we expect the favourites to start to shift.

  9. Postpublished at 15:25 Greenwich Mean Time

    15:20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 3m

    Away from the stands they go, still some distance to run.

    Derryhassen Paddy doesn't jump the latest hurdle well, allowing Wingmen to take the lead.

  10. Postpublished at 15:24 Greenwich Mean Time

    15:20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 3m

    Charlie Poste
    Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Derryhassen Paddy screams the physicality of a chaser in the making.

  11. Postpublished at 15:24 Greenwich Mean Time

    15:20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 3m

    Wingmen, backed down to 6-1 shortly before this race, has moved into the lead.

    All 20 horses are covered by about 10 lengths here, a very crowded and competitive field.

  12. Postpublished at 15:23 Greenwich Mean Time

    15:20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 3m

    All still in contention with seven to jump.

    Second favourite Jasmin De Vaux has been a back marker thus far.

  13. Postpublished at 15:22 Greenwich Mean Time

    15:20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 3m

    John Hunt
    Horse racing commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Derryhassen Paddy is a magnificent-looking horse.

  14. Postpublished at 15:22 Greenwich Mean Time

    15:20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 3m

    Derryhassen Paddy is the early leader, but there are three or four right on its flanks.

    Impossible to call early on.

  15. Postpublished at 15:21 Greenwich Mean Time

    15:20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 3m

    12 hurdles here, all over the first three safely.

    The Big Westerner is in midfield early doors.

  16. Postpublished at 15:21 Greenwich Mean Time

    15:20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 3m

    We've had clean starts all day so far, after a few falsies in the last three days. The jockeys seem to have been allowed to take more of a run up before the tape, rather than bunching up which has caused a lot of issues.

    And we get going first time here too. Four from four!

  17. Postpublished at 15:18 Greenwich Mean Time

    15:20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 3m

    Charlie Poste
    Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live

    You're looking for a horse that stays very well. It doesn't pay to follow favourites in this race. Don't be discarding the ones at bigger races because this is often a race that is ripe for a shot.

    No favourite has won this race since 2013.

  18. Postpublished at 15:16 Greenwich Mean Time

    15:20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 3m

    The Big Westerner will go off as favourite in the Albert Bartlett. Interestingly, she is the only mare in this 20-horse field.

    Jasmin De Vaux and Jet Blue are also well fancied by the bookies.

  19. Postpublished at 15:14 Greenwich Mean Time

    We're backing whoever these two plump for - they look like Cheltenham veterans. If anybody can pick a winner, these two can.

    Cheltenham FestivalImage source, PA Media
  20. 'The thing for us is you have to make sure the balance is right for the customer'published at 15:12 Greenwich Mean Time

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    More from Cheltenham CEO Guy Lavender about the success of this year's Festival, to BBC Radio 5 Live: "The easiest thing to do is think about it as a customer. What would you expect? All of those metrics are quite similar for all sports. There has been incredible racing this year and everything flows from it. I've loved it, it's been really good fun.

    "There will be 200,000 people here over four days, any sporting event that attracts that is incredibly successful. If it's overly full, it's hard to deliver for all. If you make the thing creak too much then people's experiences do go down. Do they have a good time? Would they recommend it to their friends and family? There's a survey that goes out and we can track it. You get a good understanding and then you can attack those elements and we'll look at it over the spring.

    "Every sport is different, whether it's at Wimbledon or Augusta. The race course is incredibly successful, it's hugely profitable. The thing for us is you have to make sure the balance is right for the customer. You have to make sure ticket prices are competitive but food and beverages are probably something we can look at."