Howard Johnson normally has a live contender or two for the Cheltenham Festival and that is now very much the case for the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle after he introduced the point-to-point winner Back In Focus to make a winning debut under rules, in the process beating the ante-post favourite for the big event with something to spare, writes Elliot Slater.
All attention prior to the race was centred on Emma Lavelle’s Court In Motion who had won by a wide margin in a good race at Warwick last time out and duly came into the Haydock contest as the market leader for the Grade 2 event, but in the end had no answer to the winner who made a stunning debut first time out for his new connections.
It should be taken into account that Court In Motion was giving 7lbs to the winner, so on a point of ratings they come out just about level, but you would have to think that Back in Focus would improve for the outing and looks a serious contender for honours and the most up to date Cheltenham odds reflect this.
The six-year-old Bob Back gelding had won three point-to-points in his native Ireland and it was (in hindsight) an indication of the respect in which he was held by the Johnson team that they chose to introduce the Graham Wylie-owned horse in a Grade 2 contest against a strong field.
Bookmakers were very impressed by Back In Focus, slashing his odds for the Albert Bartlett race at the festival from a pre-race high of 66/1 to a best priced 10/1 joint favourite with Court In Motion, who was pushed out from a general offer of 5/1.
