Supreme Novices' Hurdle 2021 Racecard
The Supreme Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race which takes place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March. Open to horses aged four years or older who are novices (meaning they hadn’t won a race over hurdles prior to that season), the Supreme Novices' Hurdle is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about two miles and half a furlong (2 miles and 87 yards), with eight hurdles to be jumped.
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1:20 Tue 16 Mar SUPREME NOVICES' HURDLE Distance: 16f 87y Age: 4yo + Prize: £93,750 Going: Gd/Sft
A smaller Supreme field than usual but still a cracking contest to kickstart the Festival. Both METIER and Appreciate It bring unbeaten hurdling records to the table and Harry Fry's useful ex-Flat winner is taken to edge out Willie Mullins' much-vaunted novice and go 4-4 in this sphere after his emphatic Tolworth victory. Betfair Hurdle scorer Soaring Glory appeals as the pick of the remainder. |
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Analyst's Verdict| ENTRY FORM |
SILKS | HORSE JOCKEY & TRAINER |
AGE WGT |
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1 |
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1. APPRECIATE IT (IRE) J: P. Townend T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland |
7 11-7 |
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| Smart in bumpers and made it 3 from 3 over hurdles in impressive style in Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Novices' Hurdle at Leopardstown last month. More to offer, so bold showing is again on the cards. | |||||
2 |
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2. BALLYADAM (IRE) J: J. W. Kennedy T: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland |
6 11-7 |
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| Smart novice who landed Grade 1 at Fairyhouse and better form when 3¼ length second of 13 to Appreciate It in Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Novices' Hurdle at Leopardstown last time. Enters calculations. | |||||
3 |
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3. BLUE LORD (FR) J: Daryl Jacob T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland |
6 11-7 |
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| Ex-French Flat winner who has improved a chunk with each of his three nuns over hurdles, 6l third to Appreciate It in Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Novices' Hurdle at Leopardstown latest. Not ruled out. | |||||
4 |
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4. FOR PLEASURE (IRE) J: Harry Bannister T: Alex Hales |
6 11-7 |
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| Headstrong front runner who made it 4 wins in 5 starts in first half of season when landing Grade 2 novice over C&D in November. Well held in Betfair Hurdle only run since and has work to do here. | |||||
5 |
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5. GRUMPY CHARLEY J: Bryan Carver T: Chris Honour |
6 11-7 |
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| Progressive sort who posted a smart effort when completing hat-trick of 2m wins at Chepstow on handicap bow last month. Has a quirk or two but capable of better still and not to be underestimated. | |||||
6 |
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6. IRASCIBLE (FR) J: Rachael Blackmore T: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland |
6 11-7 |
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| Landed Clonmel maiden on debut and has posted two very useful efforts since, 9l fifth to Appreciate It in Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Novices' Hurdle at Leopardstown last month. Others appeal more though. | |||||
7 |
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7. METIER (IRE) J: Sean Bowen T: Harry Fry |
5 11-7 |
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| Useful on Flat in Ireland and has made a highly-promising start over hurdles, posting a smart effort when making it 3-3 with 12-length defeat of Shakem Up'arry in Grade 1 Tolworth. Leading contender. | |||||
8 |
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8. SOARING GLORY (IRE) J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr. T: Jonjo O'Neill |
6 11-7 |
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| Useful bumper winner who has gone from strength to strength over hurdles and impressive scorer of Betfair Hurdle at Newbury 3 weeks ago. Cheekpieces go on and not taken lightly back in novice company. | |||||
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Betting Forecast : 6/4 1.5 APPRECIATE IT, 4/1 4 METIER, 13/2 6.5 SOARING GLORY, 15/2 7.5 BALLYADAM, 12/1 12 BLUE LORD, 20/1 20 IRASCIBLE, 40/1 40 FOR PLEASURE, 40/1 40 GRUMPY CHARLEY |
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The Supreme Novices' Hurdle is the first event on the opening day of the Festival, and its start is traditionally greeted by the ‘Cheltenham Roar’, a loud cheer from the crowd as the runners are sent on their way by the race starter.
First run in 1946, the race was known as the Gloucestershire Hurdle until 1974 and used to be split into more than one division due to the number of horses trying to win the race. As a result, the great Vincent O’Brien was able to record 10 victories in the race in an eight-year period during the 1950s.
Past Supreme Novices' Hurdle winners have usually ended up as top hurdlers, including Bula (1970) and Golden Cygnet (1978), while the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner L’Escargot (1968) also won the race.
The best Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winners since the turn of the century include the 2004 victor Brave Inca , who went on to win the Champion Hurdle two years later. Captain Cee Bee beat the fellow J.P. McManus-owned Binocular in a thrilling finish, while future Champion Chase hero Sprinter Sacre was only third to Al Ferof in 2011.
Sprinter Sacre was trained by Nicky Henderson , and the Lambourn trainer saddled the first and third in 2016 with Altior and Buveur d’Air split by the Willie Mullins ace Min.
Labaik won the following year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, with Summerville Boy getting the better of Kalashnikov in the 2018 renewal.
In terms of Timeform ratings, the best Supreme Novices’ Hurdle performances have been produced by Irish horses. Champagne Fever produced the best winning performance this century until the emphatic 2015 success of his stablemate Douvan .
The most successful Supreme Novices' Hurdle trainer in recent times is Willie Mullins, who has won it six times, with: Tourist Attraction (1995), Ebaziyan (2007), Champagne Fever (2013), Vautour (2014), Douvan (2015) and Klassical Dream (2019).
The most successful Supreme Novices' Hurdle jockey in recent times is Ruby Walsh, who has won it six times, with: Noland (2006), Al Ferof (2011), Champagne Fever (2013), Vautour (2014), Douvan (2015) and Klassical Dream (2019).
Supreme Novices' Hurdle 2022 FAQs
What is the distance of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle?
2 miles and 87 yards
How many obstacles are jumped in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle?
8
What day of the festival is the Supreme Novices' Hurdle?
Day 1
What time is the Supreme Novices' Hurdle?
13:30
What weights are carried for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle?
10 st 13 lb (4-year-olds). 11 st 7 lb (5-year-olds +). 7 lb allowance for fillies and mares.
What is the purse for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle?
£125,000 (2018)
Who is the leading jockey in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle*?
Ruby Walsh
Who is the leading trainer in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle*?
Willie Mullins
Who won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle?
You can check out our Supreme Novices' Hurdle results page here to see a list of previous winners.
Where can I compare the odds for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle?
Click the link to visit our Supreme Novices' Hurdle Odds Comparison page.
*Since 1972
