CONNECTIONS of Kings Palace are confident Briar Hill will not have things all his own way in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham today.

Willie Mullins is aiming for a clean sweep in the novice hurdles after wins for Vautour in the Supreme and Faugheen in the Neptune.

Stablemate Briar Hill heads the betting for the Albert Bartlett, but until recently Kings Palace was favourite after he looked extremely impressive in a Grade Two over course and distance in December.

Trainer David Pipe has decided to keep his powder dry since then, with this race his sole aim.

‘‘I think the race probably rests between him and Briar Hill,’’ said Pipe.

‘‘Our horse travels well at the trip and jumps neatly, which is a big help. I thought he was my best chance at the Festival at the beginning of the week.’’ Part-owner Harry Drew said: ‘‘Kings Palace has looked a natural since day one.

‘‘His least impressive display was at Fontwell first time out when he had to dig deep as he wasn’t quite in his rhythm that day.

‘‘He didn’t jump as well as he can in October but he’s not a slow horse. He’d have no problem over the Neptune trip and he jumped like a twomiler the last day.

‘‘He has no issue with the ground, it was nice when he won he last day and he has the action of soft ground horse.

‘‘Everybody is saying Briar Hill is the Mullins banker of the week among the novices, but how impressive have Vautour and Faugheen been?

‘‘We’re rated 156 and Briar Hill is 147 so that suggests he needs to improve a bit.

‘‘Briar Hill is by Shantou and they tend to hit a flat spot. He won’t be able to do that with Deputy Dan and Captain Cutter in the field.’’ Briar Hill is a notoriously lazy worker at home and was an unconsidered 25-1 chance when winning the Champion Bumper last season, but Ruby Walsh has been happy with his preparation.

‘‘He looks great, he’s in really good form,’’ said the jockey.

‘‘He’s three from three over hurdles and won a Grade won at Navan and won at Naas.

‘‘Willie’s really happy with him. There’s nothing worse than a morning glory, they can only disappoint you.

‘‘If they are not flashy at home they surprise you.’’ Mullins is cautiously optimistic of a big run.

The County Carlow handler said: “When a horse is unbeaten it is always difficult to gauge how good he is and Briar Hill falls in to that category.

‘‘He was a surprise 25-1 winner of the Champion Bumper last year, but I wasn’t at all surprised as he had always looked very useful.”