A Neptune/Albert Bartlett Update: Briar Hill

Even after his surprise but emphatic success in the Champion Bumper, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle was a remote prospect for Briar Hill. He shaped like a potential stayer on his debut at Thurles and his homework clearly indicated he would be seen to best effect over a trip further than the minimum, hence his 25/1 SP at Cheltenham. 

As is compulsory, he was immediately installed as favourite for the following (now this) season’s Supreme and his stablemate, Champagne Fever’s exploits would have done nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of those tempted.

Briar Hill matched Champagne Fever’s early hurdling career in that he followed a maiden hurdle with a tilt at a Grade 1 before taking in the Slaney Novice Hurdle. Unlike Champagne Fever his maiden was over two-miles-two furlongs and his Grade 1 was over two-miles-four. 

Every time Willie Mullins or Ruby Walsh are questioned about Briar Hill the term lazy is used and even against those vastly inferior rivals faced at Wexford in his maiden hurdle, such characteristics were apparent. 

On board, Ruby Walsh felt it best to keep the tactics simple and set off in front, but early on Briar Hill had to be encouraged to maintain the pace he was setting. As the race developed his class told and he drew clear without much effort. Despite the winning margin it was not a scintillating display and eye-catching notions such as push button acceleration were absent. However, that is rarely what’s needed and crucially his hurdling technique was extremely encouraging.

The Grade 1 Navan Novice Hurdle was a farcical affair with only a single rival for Briar Hill and, determined not to rely on a superior sprint finish to his opponent, Ruby Walsh set off to make the running once more. A loss of concentration at the third last allowed Azorian to look a bigger danger than he actually was but essentially his jumping impressed again. Worryingly, he took far more rousting, and from an earlier stage, than one would expect of such a high class prospect, with accusations of laziness appearing well placed. 

He eventually responded willingly, picking up in striking fashion. Azorian had arguably thrown his race away earlier on by, all but, running out on the bend approaching the sixth flight leaving doubts about the merit of Briar Hill’s performance. Similar sentiments apply to Sunday given his main rival in form terms, Very Wood, another owned by the Gigginstown operation, threw away his chance with an error strewn round of jumping. In spite of this Very Wood still finished within four lengths of Willie Mullins’ charge, a cause for concern even if Briar Hill’s laziness was even more in evidence on this occasion.

Sunday’s Slaney Novice Hurdle was another ominously small field with only three runners and for the first time since the Champion Bumper, Ruby Walsh received a lead on Briar Hill as he settled his mount in between the leader Apache Jack and Very Wood. 

Apache Jack had faced defeat in three maiden hurdles prior to breaking his duck convincingly at the start of December. Until that point, as a full brother to Black Jack Ketchum, he had been largely disappointing and even accounting for his most recent exploits the Oscar gelding was still by far the least fancied of the trio. 

Nonetheless he gave Briar Hill and his connections their biggest scare to date thanks to a typically well-judged ride from the front forcing the idle odds-on favourite to pull out almost all the stops. Ruby Walsh had to get serious with his mount all of four furlongs out in order to close the concerning gap between him and the leader. 

He made up the ground in good time, though in the straight he had to be hard ridden to assert his superiority over Apache Jack. Once he had jumped across the runner-up at the final hurdle the race was fundamentally over despite Briar Hill having to feel the force of the whip and he pulled away by a couple of lengths, albeit only in the dying strides.

Subsequent to the race Willie Mullins indicated they would only be considering the Neptune and Albert Bartlett novice hurdles for the six-year-old and that came as no surprise. Briar Hill has done precious little quickly in his hurdling career and it is hard to envisage him mixing it with the very best over two miles on decent ground at Cheltenham even if they are a somewhat moderate bunch. 

In fact, I have similar concerns about him for the Neptune. He is bred to be a stayer, as Mullins has reiterated, the son of Shantou is out of a sister to Boston Bob and already their careers appear destined to follow similar paths. Boston Bob took in the Navan Novice Hurdle on his way to a gallant second place finish in the Albert Bartlett, where he doggedly tried in vain to reel in a bold jumping front runner. I can see something eerily similar occurring this season except Briar Hill may overhaul this year’s front runner, Kings Palace.

Each time Briar Hill has taken to the track this season he has run as if further will suit, he needs to be wound up into full stride and over three miles at Cheltenham he will have enough time. His galloping style will be suited by a consistently strong pace and Kings Palace will deliver that in the longer race. 

There are likely to be far more doubts in the Neptune, last year for instance the emphasis, as it often is, was all on speed. When searching for a Neptune winner I like to find a horse with enough pace for two miles who, once out of their novice season, will have campaigns geared around the Champion Hurdle or Arkle. I cannot see that being the case with Briar Hill, much like Boston Bob, the RSA already picks itself as a longer term target. A recent winner like First Lieutenant may lead you to question such a view but Rock On Ruby was unlucky in that race and in fairness to the Mouse Morris trained gelding he had already won a Grade 1 hurdle at two miles.

For me, Briar Hill lacks the gears for any Championship race over less than three miles and the Albert Bartlett is the obvious place to go. Willie Mullins does not see it that way however and, as much as I would like to, his participation in the Neptune cannot be ruled out. What could keep him from stepping up in trip is his jumping. 

All the focus surrounding Briar Hill has been on his lackadaisical attitude, his unwillingness to do more than is necessary. Some have branded him slow, others very slow but that is harsh to an extent and his jumping proficiency has been missed. He is athletic, nimble and eager to attack the obstacle when required. Such assets are invaluable over shorter trips and whereas Mullins’ other leading novice Faugheen, who will surely go where Sunday’s winner doesn’t, has looked clumsy, Briar Hill has looked accomplished.

It may be that we are too easily sucked into believing Briar Hill is unconscionably lazy, he could just be producing what he is capable of. It may also be that we are too quick to base judgements on a horse’s displays in very small field, slowly run affairs when his best performance came in a big field off a frenetic pace. 

When reflecting on Sunday’s performance it should then be taken into account that Briar Hill saw off two well-regarded opponents, receiving seven and ten pounds respectively, in a race not run to suit. The Neptune then, run over one furlong further, suddenly appears more feasible. It would be difficult to argue he does not deserve another chance to prove his worth, and more importantly speed, for less demanding tests but when breeding, attitude, race make-up and ground conditions are considered the Albert Bartlett remains tailor-made for this unbeaten Festival winner.