Supreme Novices' Hurdle 2023 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.

1:30 Tue 14 Mar SUPREME NOVICES' HURDLE Distance: 16f 87y Age: 4yo + Prize: £135,000 Going: Soft Analyst's Verdict MARINE NATIONALE made it 4 from 4 with more to spare than the winning margin implies in the Royal Bond having conceded first run and, although that form is perhaps not quite as strong as some of the other principals, he has the hallmarks of a potential star and is taken to confirm that view. Facile Vega surrendered his unbeaten record in tame fashion last time but will be a big threat if proving that running all wrong. Diverge is interesting up in grade, with Il Etait Temps also respected.

ENTRY FORM	SILKS	HORSE JOCKEY & TRAINER	AGE WGT		ODDS
1		1. CHASING FIRE J: Aidan Coleman T: Olly Murphy	6 11-7		BET
£170,000 buy after point win who looked a potential star when landing his sole bumper last term and has done nothing to alter that view since sent hurdling, making it 3 from 3 in 6-runner event at Sandown (2m) 38 days ago, leading 2 out and soon in command. Well worth his place at this level.
2		2. DARK RAVEN (IRE) J: Daryl Jacob T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland	6 11-7		BET
Won both starts in bumpers in 2020/21 and belied a lengthy absence in the manner of a potentially smart novice on his Leopardstown hurdling debut (2m). Far from disgraced when third in Grade 1 won by Il Etait Temps there since, and he's likely to progress further if brushing up on his jumping.
3		3. DIVERGE J: Mr P. W. Mullins T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland	5 11-7		BET
Fairly useful performer on the level in France who left his hurdling debut form well behind when running out an emphatic winner of a 22-runner Punchestown maiden (2m, heavy) 43 days ago. This will be whole different ball game, but he's clearly promising and open to further progress. Tongue strap on.
4		4. DOCTOR BRAVO (FR) J: Davy Russell T: Gordon Elliott, Ireland	6 11-7		BET
Quickened up well to win his sole bumper and impressed with his attitude when making his second hurdle start a winning one at Down Royal (17f) in January. Far from disgraced for one so inexperienced in Grade 3 at Gowran (2m) subsequently and open to further improvement.
5		5. FACILE VEGA (IRE) J: P. Townend T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland	6 11-7		BET
Won all 4 starts in bumpers last season, including Champion Bumper, and looked just as special over hurdles when ready winner of Future Champions Novices' Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas. Lost his unbeaten record in tame fashion back there last time but can prove that running all wrong.
6		6. FENNOR CROSS (IRE) J: S. D. Torrens T: John McConnell, Ireland	6 11-7		BET
Fairly useful handicapper on the Flat who built on the promise of his hurdling debut when landing a C&D maiden in October. Progressed again when following up in Grade 2 back here 3 weeks later but this demands plenty more.
7		7. HIGH DEFINITION (IRE) J: J. J. Slevin T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien, Ireland	5 11-7		BET
Very smart up to 1½m on the Flat for Aidan O'Brien and overcame some novicey mistakes to hold off a listed bumper winner and one with a big reputation on his Leopardstown hurdling debut on Boxing Day. Upped in grade and let down by his jumping there last month but remains capable of better.
8		8. IL ETAIT TEMPS (FR) J: D. E. Mullins T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland	5 11-7		BET
Much improved since fitted with a hood, building on his Tramore maiden win returned to Grade 1 company when second to Facile Vega at Leopardstown over Christmas. Capitalised on that rival underperforming when resuming winning ways there in February, but did it well and can't be taken lightly.
9		9. INTHEPOCKET J: Rachael Blackmore T: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland	6 11-7		BET
Cost £290,000 after winning his sole point and impressive when landing 2m Wexford maiden hurdle in October. Maintained unbeaten record stepped up in trip/grade at Navan (2½m) and far from disgraced behind Il Etait Temps in Grade 1 at Leopardstown (2m) last time. Not without each-way hope.
10		10. MARINE NATIONALE (IRE) J: M. J. M. O'Sullivan T: Barry Connell, Ireland	6 11-7		BET
Highly promising sort who landed a brace of bumpers in stylish fashion and maintained his unbeaten record with a smart performance on just his second hurdling start in Royal Bond at Fairyhouse (2m) last time, doing especially well having conceded first run. Exciting prospect.
11		11. PALACE BOY (GER) J: Paddy Brennan T: Fergal O'Brien	6 11-7		BET
Flat winner in Germany and made a successful start in this sphere following a lengthy absence in a 2m Chepstow novice in October. Built on that at the second attempt when 11 lengths second of 6 to the highly promising Luccia (favourite for Dawn Run) at Exeter but has his work cut out at this level.
12		12. RARE EDITION (IRE) J: Sam Twiston-Davies T: Charlie Longsdon	6 11-7		BET
Successful on his only outing in bumpers and again looked a good prospect in winning his first 3 starts over hurdles, particularly when seeing off a subsequent Grade 2 winner at Kempton (2m) on Boxing Day. Disappointed stepped up in grade at Huntingdon since but was said to have scoped dirty.
13		13. STRONG LEADER J: Sean Bowen T: Olly Murphy	6 11-7		BET
Looked highly promising in bumpers and impressively made it 3-3 in this sphere in a 2m Southwell novice 44 days ago, quickening clear under hands and heels from home turn. Has more on his plate in this higher grade, but he's created a fine impression so far and shouldn't be overlooked.
14		14. TAHMURAS (FR) J: Harry Cobden T: Paul Nicholls	6 11-7		BET
Successful pointer who hasn't looked back since finding only one too good on his Rules bow, winning a Wincanton bumper and all 3 hurdle starts to date, including the Grade 1 Tolworth last time, despite still showing signs of inexperience. That form is proving strong, and he's open to more progress.
Betting Forecast : 5/2 2.5 FACILE VEGA, 9/2 4.5 MARINE NATIONALE, 13/2 6.5 IL ETAIT TEMPS, 10/1 10 TAHMURAS, 16/1 16 HIGH DEFINITION, 16/1 16 DIVERGE, 20/1 20 CHASING FIRE, 20/1 20 DOCTOR BRAVO, 22/1 22 INTHEPOCKET, 25/1 25 STRONG LEADER, 28/1 28 DARK RAVEN, 28/1 28 RARE EDITION, 66/1 66 FENNOR CROSS, 200/1 200 PALACE BOY

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 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