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13:30Supreme Novices' Hurdle
14:10Arkle Chase
14:50Ultima Handicap Chase
15:30Champion Hurdle
16:10Mares Hurdle
16:50Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
17:30National Hunt Chase
13:30Gallagher Novices' Hurdle (Registered as The Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle)
14:10Brown Advisory Novices' Chase
14:50Coral Cup Hurdle
15:30Champion Chase
16:10(ABANDONED) Cross Country Chase
16:50Grand Annual Chase
17:30Champion Bumper
Supreme Novices' Hurdle
13:30 Cheltenham Festival
2024-03-12
Winner: £75,964.5
Runners: 11
Going: Soft
No. of hurdles: 8
Distance: 2m0f87y
The Skybet Supreme Novices' Hurdle is the first race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival. It is the premier race during the jumps season for the speedier novice hurdlers as it is run over the minimum trip of 2m. As a result the Grade 1 presents a fierce test of accurate jumping at speed. It has been won by some of the most promising horses in recent history, including Altior, Vautour and Douvan, who all went on to win multiple Grade 1 races.
NO.DRAW
FORM
FORM
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7(0)
52-1
Mistergif
-
J: Daryl Jacob
T: W P Mullins
5
11-7
0
141
0-11 in France, mostly on Flat, but showed clear promise (in a hood) over hurdles and was sold for 190,000euros after final run there; bright start for new connections, recording a wide-margin success at Limerick (2m, heavy; made all) in a race that high-class stablemate State Man landed in 2022 en route to Cheltenham Festival glory (in the County) and multiple Grade 1 wins; hood now reapplied; interesting prospect.
1(0)
2-411
Asian Master
-
J: Mr T Costello
T: W P Mullins
7
11-7
0
142
One of six runners for Willie Mullins; point winner for previous stable; 2-2 since joining this yard and switched to hurdles, both wins under 7lb amateur Thomas Costello and latest by 10l at Navan (2m, soft to heavy) in a novice event that has been won by a few subsequent Grade 1 scorers (albeit over fences) in recent years; promising sort but the jockey cannot utilise his claim, which would have helped at this deeper level.
3(0)
11-114
Firefox
-
J: Jack Kennedy
T: Gordon Elliott
6
11-7
0
145
Completed a bumper hat-trick prior to winning a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse (2m, soft; second attempt in this sphere) where he comfortably beat leading novice Ballyburn, who is otherwise unbeaten and is favourite for the Gallagher here on Wednesday; ran below expectations (finished only fourth) in Grade 1 at Naas since but the 2m4f was perhaps a factor; could well resume his progress back down in distance and remains of strong interest.
12(0)
12-211
Tullyhill
-
J: Paul Townend
T: W P Mullins
6
11-7
153
152
Overall record is 4-6 and he appears to handle any ground; good second in Grade 1 bumper at Punchestown last April; jumping lacked fluency when turned over at very short odds there on debut over hurdles but he has posted two impressive all-the-way wins (over 2m) since, latest in Listed event at same venue; earlier form suggests he doesn't need to dominate; one of the main contenders back at the top level.
10(0)
7/2-
Supersundae
-
J: Mr P W Mullins
T: W P Mullins
5
11-7
0
111
Raced twice in France, better effort when second at Compiegne (2m2f, heavy) last April; absent since; siblings include a Cheltenham Festival winner (over 2m5f) but this looks a baptism of fire on debut for Willie Mullins; has easily the worst chance on bare figures.
9(0)
13-112
Slade Steel
-
J: Rachael Blackmore
T: Henry De Bromhead
6
11-7
147
154
Seems versatile ground-wise; has progressive RPRs and career record is 4-6; his only defeats came in races won by notable rival Ballyburn, keeping-on second in Leopardstown Grade 1 latest when dropped back to 2m; Grade 2 scorer over 2m4f at Navan the time before and may ideally need a return to that distance; he's in this race to avoid a clash with Ballyburn in the Gallagher but is a big player on form and any emphasis on stamina, through pace/ground, would be a plus.
NR(0)
3-17
Gold Dancer
-
T: W P Mullins
5
11-7
0
127
Won over hurdles (2m2f, heavy) at the second attempt in France, then sold for 250,000euros; should win more races in due course but well behind Slade Steel in Leopardstown Grade 1 on debut for new connections, folding tamely after the final flight; needs huge improvement on that effort.
2(0)
0-1122
Favour And Fortune
-
J: Tom Cannon
T: Alan King
6
11-7
138
142
Appears to handle any ground; comfortably held in last season's Champion Bumper here; very consistent otherwise, runner-up in Aintree Grade 1 and Exeter Listed event (notwithstanding a lack of fluency) over 2m the last twice, taking hurdles form figures to 1122; faces a stiffer assignment back at this meeting and has the added pressure of needing to jump more proficiently than last time.
11(0)
21P1
Tellherthename
-
J: Kielan Woods
T: Ben Pauling
5
11-7
135
142
Best to forgive his Grade 1 effort on Boxing Day (lost his action); has solid form otherwise and that defeat is flanked by all-the-way wins at Huntingdon (2m, good/good to soft), both by 14l; seems to handle soft; should rate higher still in the right scenario but chance may partly depend on whether he's able to dominate in the same comfortable manner, which isn't guaranteed in this field.
5(0)
111
Jeriko Du Reponet
-
J: Nico de Boinville
T: Nicky Henderson
5
11-7
136
143
Acts on soft; had to work harder than previously in Grade 2 at Doncaster (2m, good) most recently but the form has been franked by the second and third since and he remains unbeaten; one of his earlier Newbury wins came in a race that has thrown up several Grade 1 winners, including two from this yard, in the last decade; has been racing in steadily run affairs and the likely stronger gallop in this scenario may enable him to achieve a much higher rating; shortlisted.
6(0)
041
Kings Hill
-
J: Jack G Gilligan
T: Paul John Gilligan
5
11-7
0
126
Justified favouritism at Thurles (1m7f, soft to heavy) four weeks ago on third attempt in maiden hurdles; remains unexposed but that form is nothing special and he was well behind Firefox at Fairyhouse on debut; well down this pack in terms of bare achievements.
8(0)
111
Mystical Power
-
J: Mark Walsh
T: W P Mullins
5
11-7
148
153
The son of highly distinguished parents, being by legendary Flat sire Galileo and the first foal of Champion Hurdle winner Annie Power; has duly made a big splash and took his record to 3-3 with Grade 2 romp at Punchestown (2m, soft) most recently; bumper win came on good ground; not completely fluent in his two races over hurdles but scored impressively by 7l both times and looks a Grade 1 winner in waiting; should benefit from first-time hood, having shown a tendency to take a good hold; brings stacks of potential to this bigger stage and commands major respect.
RACING POST TIP
Mystical Power
This year's Supreme has become more open with leading novice Ballyburn skipping the 2m option and heading for the Gallagher on Wednesday. Firefox and Slade Steel tie in with that horse and come here with strong claims on form, while Willie Mullins is typically well represented even without Ballyburn. As regards those Closutton runners, MYSTICAL POWER is particularly appealing. He is superbly bred, remains unbeaten and looks open to any amount of further improvement. Tullyhill (second choice) has progressed with each start over hurdles and holds a leading chance on ratings, while Mistergif is an interesting prospect. Jeriko Du Reponet is the pick of the British contenders and helps to give JP McManus, who also owns the selection, a robust hand.
Past 10 Supreme Novices' Hurdle Winners
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2023 | Marine Nationale | 1111 | 6 | 9/2 | Barry Connell | Michael O’Sullivan |
| 2022 | Constitution Hill | 11 | 5 | 9/4J | Nicky Henderson | Nico de Boinville |
| 2021 | Appreciate It | 12-111 | 7 | 8/11F | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2020 | Shishkin | 1-F11 | 6 | 6-1 | Nicky Henderson | Nico de Boinville |
| 2019 | Klassical Dream | 24P-11 | 5 | 6-1 | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2018 | Summerville Boy | 1-2231 | 6 | 9/1 | Tom George | Noel Fehily |
| 2017 | Labaik | 11RR6 | 6 | 25/1 | Gordon Elliott | Jack Kennedy |
| 2016 | Altior | 6-1111 | 6 | 4/1 | Nicky Henderson | Nico de Boinville |
| 2015 | Douvan | 21-11- | 5 | 2/1F | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2014 | Vautour | 22-111 | 5 | 7/2J | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
Supreme Novices' Hurdle Key Trends and Stats
Key trends
- Rated within 8lb of RPR top-rated, ten winners in last ten runnings
- Adjusted RPR of at least 154, 9/10
- Previously contested a Graded race, 9/10
- Won last time out, 9/10
- Ran within the last 66 days, 8/10
- Won at least 50 per cent of hurdle starts, 7/10
Other factors
- Only one winner had come via the Flat. Five of the other nine started their careers in bumpers, where they had earned an RPR of at least 110. Three started over hurdles in France, while another went hurdling straight from a point-to-point.
- Only one winner had run in the Champion Bumper (Appreciate It second in 2020).
Check out all of our latest Cheltenham Free Bets ahead of placing your bets on the 2024 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
What happened last year - Supreme Novices' Hurdle 2023
MARINE NATIONALE maintained his unbeaten record, making it 5-5 and in the process becoming the first Royal Bond winner since Like-A-Butterfly in 2002 to follow up in the Supreme. The form of his Fairyhouse win, back in early December, needed improving on, but his trainer had been bullish and, despite slightly concerns over the rain blunting his speed, he readily took Facile Vega’s measure on the run-in, helped by a stumble from the favourite on touching down after the last. It was a fine ride by Michael O’Sullivan, unable to claim his 3lb allowance and having just his second mount at the Cheltenham Festival, showing great patience in following Paul Townend who made his move early on the runner-up.