Hercules among Mullins 21 in Bartlett Ante-post favourite Black Hercules is among 97 horses in contention for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on March 13. The six-year-old finished fourth in last season's Champion Bumper and has made a fine start to his jumping career with successive victories at Cork, most recently striking at Grade Three level over the Albert Bartlett trip of three miles. Black Hercules is one of 21 entries for Willie Mullins, with stablemates Milsean, Nichols Canyon and Outlander also in the mix. There is a record 42 Irish-trained entries, including highly-regarded Grade Two victor No More Heroes (Gordon Elliott) and the consistent Martello Tower (Mags Mullins). Noel Meade took the spoils last year with Very Wood and has four engaged, headed by easy Navan scorer Snow Falcon, while Mouse Morris has nominated Alpha Des Obeaux and Baily Cloud. Value At Risk, formerly trained in Ireland by the now suspended Philip Fenton and now with Dan Skelton, is the highest British-trained horse in the betting, with a step up in trip expected to suit. Other contenders include the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Blaklion and Harry Fry's Thomas Brown.
