Barters Hill

Probably to do with Ben Pauling saying on Monday that he was leaning towards the Neptune Trial at Chelt on Trials day - race won by Bob's Worth and At Fishers Cross in recent years.

He also said Festival target will be decided nearer the time. Feeling was he is still leaning towards the AB but mentioned that he can't get the fact that the horse has speed out of his head.

This, and next target, has led some to think he'll end up in the Neptune - probably the reason why he's a little weak on both markets.

Personally think he'd need his head testing if he ran him in the Neptune as he's not a future Champ Hurdle horse - Neptunes are run quite steadily and then turn into a rush for home. He does have speed but his main attribute his a ruthless ability to gallop his rivals into submission.

If he ran in the Neptune it wouldn't be steadily run if he made the pace which is extremely likely. He'd turn it into a real test. Keep your powder dry is my advice as these novice hurdles are a nightmare until much closer to the race.

It's a complete no brainer, how the hell is he being even considered for the sluggers race?.
This is a class horse who has already beaten Bellshill who is fav for the race, and two of the front 3 in the betting for the supreme novices, namely Altior and Beuveuir Dair.
They should run it in the shorter race, put up Johnson and let Bass lead it round the parade ring, that's what would be the ideal thing to do

Stayers tend to beat faster horses over bumpers - I wouldn't be looking at Barters Hill and going 'oh be beat some really good 2 mile horses in bumpers so he must be quick'.

That's why CF is the only horse for some time to have won the supreme the year after winning the bumper.

I wouldn't put too much emphasis on bumper form when talking about hurdles races. They can be a decent gauge to start off with but are two completely different disciplines.

Good horses like Jezki, The New One, Killultagh Vic are three off the top of my head who get beat a decent number of lengths in the bumper and came very good over hurdles, where winners like Cousin Vinny, Dunguib, Briar Hill largely didn't do anything.

CCM - It was the point he made about speed that led to me interpreting it the way I did. I have looked over it again and there are points to be made in going for either race - he says that himself like you pointed out.   

I have backed Barter's Hill at 14's, 12's and 10's to win any race, so happy from that point of view

mincer..bass has won on the horse all its runs bar warwick (banned) and you think he should drop him?

Mincer - Bass has ridden BH very well to date and I don't think he is the easiest horse to ride. Having watched all the races back, Bass can often be seen pushing BH along at points in the race you wouldn't expect. Aintree being a classic example. He clearly knows the horses strengths and weaknesses which will is key come Cheltenham. I have backed BH fairly heavily Ante Post and would be happy with Bass on board.

ALBERT BARTLETT favourite Barters Hill may not run in the race with trainer Ben Pauling yet to rule out the Neptune for his impressive Challow Hurdle winner.

The 5-1 market leader for the longer race, and as short as 7-2, Barters Hill is 16-1 for the Neptune and will race once more on January 30 before connections decide with Cheltenham and Doncaster under consideration.

"He will run on January 30 in either the Neptune trial at Cheltenham or the Albert Bartlett trial at Doncaster the same day," said the trainer.

"Hand on heart, I can't tell you whether I'll go Neptune or Albert Bartlett after that. He's 5-1 across the board for the Abert Bartlett and he's about 10s or 12s for the Neptune, but my problem is that he's not devoid of speed; he's not an outright slogger."

Ground a factor

Going conditions are likely to determine which path Barters Hill will take. "Obviously he's going to be a horse who stays very well but I think my decision will depend largely on the ground," explained Pauling. "If we get 'Cheltenham ground' then we'll probably go Albert Bartlett but if it came up soft I think the Neptune is plenty enough test for him.

"If he doesn't run at Doncaster at the end of the month then he'd never have run three miles so it's not as easy a decision as everyone might think and he'll have entries for both."

Barters Hill scored by 12 lengths in the Challow but not everyone was entirely convinced with his performance in testing conditions. "The ground was so heavy and tiring, it made it hard for him to look as slick over his hurdles," said Pauling.

"It looked like it was a bit more of an effort but you couldn't help but be impressed with how he quickened from the second-last to put 12 lengths between himself and the second horse when had been sat on his tail.

"To do that in that sort of ground was really quite impressive. It's not that he didn't handle the ground, he just didn't enjoy it as much as he does a sounder surface."

I hope he goes for the Neptune to stay away from up for review, only on a selfish level as I carnt split them in the AB?..

yes I do..i think hes better on it, were barters will go on better ground and soft imo,i,ll be lucky enough to speak to ben on the 7th march as I help a friend who organises a preview night that ben has come too for the last 3 yrs..so I,ll find out what are his thoughts etc..by then we'll know were he goes..

For me the Albert Bartlett is the race he should be aimed at for best chance of success. I base this on 2 simple opinions:

1.) The Neptune tends to be won by classy, future 2 mile horses more than future stayers. As I do not see Barters Hill running in championship 2 mile events in the future this would be a negative for me. I don't think he is classy enough for the Neptune despite his amazing winning streak. Every race he has won he has been off the bridle earlier than his challengers but they have not been able to pass him. In the Neptune he will come across horses with 2 mile speed that can stay 2 and a half. I have a feeling one of these might just do him for speed on the run in as they will travel better than him.

2.) Kalanisi is his sire and not really prolific in siring classy progeny. Apart from Katchit, who divides opinion, Kalanisi has never sired anything that you would call a Top Tier graded horse.

JackieMoon33 - I have to disagree.

Barter's Hill beat Buveur D'air and Altior over 2m1f, then went on to beat current Neptune favorite Bellshill over the same trip. That, on top of the trainers comments re speed, put any question marks over speed completely into touch for me, especially if the ground isn't good. I think he would get the trip for the AB but think his combination of speed and stamina would fit perfectly for the Neptune.

JakieMoon33 - I am not basing my opinion solely on the bumper runs because as you say, that is a dangerous game, but since those runs we have seen BH in two Novice Hurdle races where he confirmed he can jump very well.

JakieMoon33 - Good point on a trainers general approach to bumper horses - perhaps a point I overlooked, but I would argue Barters Hill will come on leaps and bounds in the maturity department. At Newbury he had a long look at the exit and at Huntington he shyed at the path, in both cases Bass had to set him right.

I'm in no way knocking the horse though, he'd be my pick for the Albert Bartlett but not for the Neptune.

Pauling has confirmed its Donny. Great news for AB backers.

Surely there is no way that Mullins will send over Up For Review. He may well have done had Barters gone to Cheltenham, but I'd imagine he'll send over one of his lesser rans to see where they stand against Barters.

Yes I thought the same. A hard race against BH is the last thing the will want.

I thought he had a hard race today and was ridden out to the line, hope he doesn't bounce at the festival as the AB looks his to lose.. can't believe he's still above 2/1..