Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

THE Albert Bartlett is the Cheltenham Festival novice hurdle than Willie Mullins has won less often than any other at the meeting, but he looks set to field the strong favourite for this year’s renewal after Doctor Steinberg posted a statement win in the Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle.

On paper, it was difficult to say beforehand just how strong the original DRF curtain raiser was. However, a standout winner emerged - and a clear 5/2 favourite (from 6/1) for the Albert Bartlett. It was a thoroughly positive performance from the 7/4 favourite to score by eight lengths in owner Tom Gilligan’s Jodmart Construction Ltd colours.

Paul Townend, joining Ruby Walsh on four wins to become the joint-most successful rider in the race’s history, had a job on his hands to fully settle the last-time-out Grade 2 winner, but his mount’s class ultimately told. Kazanzky finished closest for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy, with Love Me Tender (Willie Mullins/Mark Walsh) completing the frame.

Mullins, speaking after his record-extending 11th win in the race, said: “It was very impressive on that ground, it’s very tough. Every time we’ve gone up in trip, he seems to like it. He’s out of a Cyborg mare and that’s all stamina.

“It was probably going to the last the first time before he relaxed. There was a horse up his backside everywhere he went and he was very free, but he kept galloping - the fact that he could pull like that and still be galloping at the end of two-miles-six on very tough ground.

“We thought he was a summer horse first so he goes on all sorts of ground, but he seems to be better when he has tougher conditions. I think we bought two off Walter [Connors] one year, Kopek Des Bordes and this fella, so it’s a 100 per cent record in Grade 1s, which is fantastic."

The winner’s form had been franked in no uncertain terms when the runner-up from his previous Navan Grade 2 win, Thedeviluno, won readily at Doncaster last month.

Townend added: “This horse is improving quickly and stays really nicely. It’s heavy ground today, there’s no other way to describe it. The team here deserve a lot of credit for delivering the track as they have.”