We give you our Supreme Novices Hurdle Tips and predictions ahead of the 2024 renewal. This race will inaugurate the 2024 edition as the first race on the first day of the festival, and so you can bet the Cheltenham Roar will be out in full force this year.
Key Takeaways
- The current favourite is Ballyburn, followed by Tullyhill, Mystical Power and Firefox. Potential outsiders include Tellherthename and Kings Hill in our Cheltenham odds.
- The Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham is a Grade 1 race that serves as a key platform for novice hurdlers to showcase their talents at the start of the Cheltenham Festival.
- Successful betting on the Supreme Novices Hurdle involves assessing a horse’s pedigree and form, the historical success of trainers and jockeys, and utilizing trends and statistics for informed decision-making.
- Access to expert analysis, tips, and predictions closer to the race day, as well as leveraging exclusive membership offers from bookmakers, can provide bettors with a competitive edge in placing winning bets.
Supreme Novices Hurdle Overview
The Sky Bet Supreme Novices Hurdle is a prestigious Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race that holds a special place in the hearts of racing enthusiasts. Initially named the Gloucestershire Hurdle, this race has undergone several name changes and sponsorships, with Sky Bet assuming the mantle in 2023. As the event approaches, many fans eagerly anticipate the supreme novices hurdle odds to place their bets.
Set over a distance of two miles and ½ furlong (2 miles and 87 yards, or 3,298 meters) on the Old Course at Cheltenham Racecourse, this opening race features eight hurdles. It is the premier race for novice hurdlers during the jumps season. The iconic ‘Cheltenham Roar’ from the spectators marks the start of the race, setting the tone for one of jump racing’s most illustrious events – the Cheltenham Festival.
Supreme Novices Hurdle Odds
The Favourites
Let’s take a look at the favourites for the Supreme Novices Hurdle ahead of the renewal.
- Ballyburn – priced at 5/6* and trained by Willie Mullins, this 6 year old has an impressive race card with their most recent win coming in the form of the Tattersalls Ireland 50th Derby Sale Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.
- Tullyhill – priced at 4/1* and trained by Willie Mullins, this 6 year old has an equally as impressive race card winning at the Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on 18 February.
- Mystical Power – priced at 4/1* and trained by Willie Mullins, this 5 year old is a bit more green than the others with only 3 race under their belt, but they have won every single one.
- Firefox – priced at 6/1* and trained by Gordon Elliott, this 6 year old had a near perfect race card before placing 4th at Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle 12 January.
The Outsiders
- Tellherthename – priced at 16/1* and trained by Ben Pauling, this 5 year old pulled up at Aintree on boxing day at the Formby Novices’ Hurdle but won their next race at Huntingdon’s National Hunt Novices Hurdle.
- Kings Hill – priced at 33/1* (shifted from 50/1) and trained by Paul John Gilligan, this 5 year old is an intriguing outsider which could surprise, placing 13th at their first race at Fairyhouse early December, 4th at Leopardstown on boxing day and then winning for the first time since their debut at the Thurles Maiden Hurdle 13 February. It looks like this one’s just getting started.
Supreme Novices Hurdle Trends
Trainer Success
A successful trainer can be the defining factor in a horse’s performance. Trainers like Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson have a notable history in the Supreme Novices Hurdle, winning seven of the last ten renewals between them. Willie Mullins, in particular, holds the record for the most victories since 1972 in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, with seven wins.
Leading trainers ranked over the past 2 decades:
- Willie Mullins – 6 wins
- Nicky Henderson – 3 wins
- Paul Nicholls – 2 wins
- Gordon Elliott – 1 win
- Barry Connell – 1 win
Jockey Performance
The role of a jockey in a horse race cannot be underestimated. In the Supreme Novices Hurdle, a jockey’s skill, experience, and rapport with the horse play a significant role in the outcome of the race.
Here are the top jockeys ranked over the past 20 years:
- Ruby Walsh – 6 wins
- Nico de Boinville – 3 wins
- Paul Townend – 1 win
- Jack Kennedy – 1 win
- Michael O’Sullivan – 1 win
Past Supreme Novices Hurdle Winners
The race has also seen its share of upsets. The biggest upset in the Supreme Novices Hurdle over the last 20 years was Ebaziyan’s victory in 2007 at odds of 40/1. For those who placed a bet supreme novices hurdle, the 2023 Supreme Novices Hurdle, which was also the first race of the event, was won by Marine Nationale, under the guidance of trainer Barry Connell and jockey Michael O’Sullivan.
| Year | Horse | Trainer & Jockey |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 3:59.69 | Marine Nationale (IRE) 6yo 11-7 9/2 | Michael O’Sullivan Barry Connell (IRE) |
| 2022 3:44.35 | Constitution Hill (GB) 5yo 11-7 9/4F | Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson (GB) |
| 2021 3:56.32 | Appreciate It (IRE) 7yo 11-7 8/11F | Paul Townend W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2020 4:08.20 | Shishkin (IRE) 6yo 11-7 6/1 | Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson (GB) |
| 2019 3:59.56 | Klassical Dream (FR) 5yo 11-7 6/1 | R Walsh W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2018 4:05.00 | Summerville Boy (IRE) 6yo 11-7 9/1 | Noel Fehily Tom George (GB) |
| 2017 3:53.20 | Labaik (FR) 6yo 11-7 25/1 | Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott (IRE) |
| 2016 3:46.00 | Altior (IRE) 6yo 11-7 4/1 | Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson (GB) |
| 2015 3:47.50 | Douvan (FR) 5yo 11-7 2/1F | R Walsh W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2014 3:46.40 | Vautour (FR) 5yo 11-7 7/2F | R Walsh W P Mullins (IRE) |
Cheltenham Festival Schedule and Highlights
The Cheltenham Festival is a four-day event that celebrates the best of jump racing. Scheduled to take place from Tuesday 12th to Friday 15th March 2024, the festival will be celebrating 100 years of the Gold Cup, with special festivities planned throughout the week.
Each day of the Festival offers a unique experience:
- Champion Day on Tuesday
- Style Wednesday
- St Patrick’s Day on Thursday
- Gold Cup Day on Friday
Betting Strategies and Resources
Finding an expert horse racing tipster can be half of the job when you’re looking to place bets. Luckily, we at BetVictor have Sam Boswell who gives us Daily NAPs and will be here to give a tip for every single day of the Cheltenham Festival.
If you’re not a fan of the tips and prefer searching for yourself, use our horse racing Betfinder to find your perfect pick.
While there’s no sure fire formula for a winning bet, these strategies and resources can help you make informed decisions. If you want to learn more about how to place bets responsibly, you can visit our Safer Gambling Portal for information and advice.
Exclusive Horse Racing Tips and Offers
When you sign up to BetVictor, our new customers can opt in to a betting offer, for example they can deposit and get free bets depending on the T&Cs and the qualifying bet you have to place.
We’re also offering Best Odds Guaranteed which means we’ll pay out at the bigger price if you take an early price. (18+ Take the Early Price at any UK or Irish Horse Racing or Greyhound Meeting (applies to bets placed on the day of the race between 09:00 & the start of the race) & we’ll pay out at the Starting Price if it’s bigger. Click for T&C’s. begambleaware.org)
And not only that, we’re offering Non Runner No Bet on all Cheltenham races, so if you’re horse doesn’t run on the day, we’ll return you your stake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Supreme Novices hurdle Favourite?
Ballyburn is the new favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle after an impressive victory at Leopardstown.
What is the 13:30 Supreme Novices hurdle?
The 13:30 Supreme Novices hurdle is the premier race during the jumps season for the speedier novice hurdlers, run over the minimum trip of 2m at Cheltenham Festival, presenting a fierce test of accurate jumping at speed.
How many hurdles are in the Supreme Novices?
The Supreme Novices’ hurdle at Cheltenham features eight hurdles over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards.
What is the novice handicap hurdle?
The novice handicap hurdle is a race for horses who have not won a hurdles race and can compete in novice hurdles until they achieve their first win, and then they can move on to open company hurdles.
*All odds are correct at time of writing and are subject to change.
18+ | Begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly
