Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Betting Tips, Winners & History

Next Race: Tuesday, 16th March 2021

The next race is scheduled to run on 16th March 2021. The race info, trends and tips shown below will be updated for the next renewal once the final declarations have been made.

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Betting Tips

Note: The following tips are from 2020. Tips for the next renewal will be added once the final declarations have been made.

Unsurprisingly, considering this is a race for the novice hurdlers, it has been the younger performers who have held sway in this event, with each of the past 11 renewals having been landed by a runner aged either five or six years of age.

With six wins in total, including four in the space of the past seven years, it is the multiple Irish champion Willie Mullins who has proven to be the dominant force amongst the trainers. Mullins sends three into battle this time around in the shape of Elixir D’ainay, Berkshire Royal, and one of the current market leaders, Asterion Forlonge.

Mullins has been the man responsible for the two winning favourites or joint favourites in the past decade, in the shape of the supremely talented duo of Vautour and Douvan. Overall, backers of the market leader would have registered a level stakes loss of 5.5 units over this period.

SHISHKIN (11/4)

Next to Mullins in the trainers’ table amongst those represented this year is the Lambourn-based handler, Nicky Henderson. Successful three times in all – most recently with the brilliant Altior in 2016 – Henderson is responsible for the current market leader in this year’s race, with his six year old son of Sholokov – Shishkin – having sprung to the head of the betting.

A winner of a point-to-point and a bumper contest last season, Shishkin’s hurdling career didn’t get off to the most encouraging of starts when making it no further than the second obstacle at Newbury. It is safe to say that things have gone considerably better since. So much better in fact that no horse has been able to get within 11 lengths of him in romps at Newbury and Huntingdon. In possession of a very high cruising speed, this athletic-looking sort is improving rapidly and may well be up to the task in this one.

ASTERION FORLONGE (3/1)

Next in the market – or vying for favouritism with some bookies – comes the aforementioned Asterion Forlonge. A perfect four from four in his career to date, and going in the same Mrs J Donnelly colours as Shishkin, this likeable grey has also made a hugely encouraging start to his career over obstacles.

To score by 10 lengths in his maiden at Naas was impressive enough, but to then just about match that, when landing the Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle by nine and a half lengths, marked him out as a chaser potentially out of the very top drawer. Initially expected by some to be better over further than the minimum distance – that may well be the case in time – but so emphatic was that Leopardstown success, connections have understandably opted to take their chance in this. The one question mark against his chance is a slight propensity to jump out to his right, but he is in the right hands to iron out that kink, and clearly possesses bags of ability.

ABRACADABRAS (5/1)

Gordon Elliott has also been on the scoresheet here in recent years having sent out Labaik to cause a 25/1 shock in 2016, and he would look to have solid claims of landing a second success in the contest courtesy of his six year old, Abacadabras.

Boasting three wins in four starts over hurdles – with the only defeat coming at the hands of the extremely highly regarded, Envoi Allen – this Gigginstown House Stud owned runner also boasts a solid previous effort at the festival, having ran well to finish fourth in last season’s Champion Bumper. The evidence of an eight-length win in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last time out would suggest he is still improving, and he looks likely to be involved at the business end.

FIDDLERONTHEROOF (6/1)

Colin Tizzard has experienced his share of success at the Cheltenham Festival, but is yet to land the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Bidding to change that in 2020 is the six year old son of Stowaway, Fiddlerontheroof.

Never out of the first two in four starts over hurdles, he began the current season with gallant second place finishes to Albert Bartlett favourite, Thyme Hill, and Edwardstone – who also lines up in this race. Like a number of runners from the yard he has improved for those early efforts as the season has progressed, and really made the punting public sit up and take notice when slamming his rivals in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown last time out. A repeat of that level of form would bring him right into contention.

CHANTRY HOUSE (7/1)

Already responsible for the favourite for the race, Nicky Henderson also has a strong second string to his bow in the shape of the JP McManus owned, Chantry House. A decisive winner of a soft ground bumper at Warwick last season – with Edwardstone amongst those unable to lay a glove on the son of star flat stayer Yeats, hopes were understandably high headed into his debut season over obstacles and, in two hurdle starts to date, the six year old has done nothing to dent those hopes.

Kicking things off with an ever so easy win over subsequent Grade 2 winner Stolen Silver at this track in December, he then stepped up on that to power clear in a Class 3 at Newbury last time out. Clearly this is a big step up in class, but considering he tends to come from just off the pace and quicken up to win, it is hard to know just how good he is. To his advantage is the fact that his smooth travelling style should enable him to sit in behind any pace battle on the front end, with that proven ability to come up the hill also counting for plenty. At the prices, he will do for us in an open renewal.