Supreme Novices' Hurdle: Katie Midwinter's runner-by-runner guide and 1-2-3 prediction

• Katie Midwinter provides a runner-by-runner guide to the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

• A brilliant renewal of the opening race of the meeting in prospect

• 12 confirmations for the Grade 1 novice contest

• Bet £10 get £10 on racing multiples every day of Cheltenham Festival

• Check out our Betfair Tipsters' Best Bets for the Festival

• Read our in-depth guide to the first day of the Cheltenham Festival

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Cheltenham Day 1 Superboost Winner

The Cheltenham Festival got off to a flyer for the 31,000 backers of the Betfair Sportsbook Superboost as Old Park Star won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. See details of the offer below and look out for more Betfair Superboosts at the Festival.

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The Betfair Sportsbook have a fantastic Superboost to commence the 2026 Cheltenham Festival in the shape of Supreme Novices' Hurdle favourite Old Park Star.

The six-year-old has never been out of the first three in all of his six career starts and he's won all three of his races for new trainer Nicky Henderson this season. He was 1/31.33 to finish in the top four in Tuesday's curtain raiser, but you can now back him at the super-boosted price of 1/12.00.

To take advantage of this generous Superboost, click on the odds in the below Bet Banner to go to the pre-loaded bet slip.

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Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 13:20, Tuesday 10th of March

The Supreme Novices' Hurdle is the iconic opening race of the Cheltenham Festival in which the famous roar precedes the emergence of a potential superstar as seen in years gone by, more recently with the likes of Shishkin, Constitution Hill, Marine Nationale and, last year's winner, Kopek Des Bordes.

It's a race that has served Seven Barrows well in the past, with Nicky Henderson having first landed the race in 1986 with River Ceiriog, before adding a further four to his record, including the brilliant Altior as well as the aforementioned pair Shishkin and Constitution Hill. He holds a strong hand with Old Park Star in this year's renewal, an unbeaten hurdler that has been annihilating his rivals in novice company - where have we seen that before?

Constitution Hill had beaten his rivals by a combined distance of 26-lengths in two races before recording an emphatic 22-length win over stablemate Jonbon in 2022. Old Park Star has achieved a similar feat despite taking a different route, winning three races by a combined margin of 33-lengths.

Willie Mullins is unlikely to give up the trophy he has won a record eight times easily, however, having first landed the prize in 1995 with Tourist Attraction, he has saddled the likes of Champagne Fever, Vautour and Douvan to success in the race since. Mighty Park has only been seen once over hurdles when a magnificent 38-length winner at Fairyhouse. He really could be anything and warrants the utmost respect for a master trainer.

There are plenty of others worthy of consideration too, in what looks likely to be a deep renewal, with promising prospects such as El Cairos and Mydaddypaddy included, novices who haven't enjoyed a faultless campaign but have shown to possess a great amount of ability in their short careers to date.

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Old Park Star

9/43.25 favourite to win the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Three from three over hurdles since joining Nicky Henderson from Ditcheat, six-year-old Old Park Star has impressed so far this term, improving throughout the campaign and emerging as one of the most exciting prospects from his yard.

He emphatically reversed form with Hurricane Pat, who had beaten him on Rules debut in a Sandown bumper the season prior, by recording an 18-length victory in his first graded appearance, landing the Grade Two Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle in fine fashion.

Visually, few other novices have been quite as impressive as Old Park Star this term, and Nicky Henderson rarely gets it wrong when it comes to a strong Supreme contender, having saddled some fantastic horses to victory in the race previously.

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Mighty Park

3/14.00 to win the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

There was a huge amount of discussion over which race Mighty Park would line up in at this year's Cheltenham Festival following a fantastic win on hurdling debut at Fairyhouse in January. He's likely to have plenty of backers following that 38-length success, but does lack experience in comparison with his main market rival and will have to prove he can handle the occasion as well as tougher opposition.

The son of Walk In The Park appears to possess plenty of raw ability and great talent, however, and, entitled to take a step forward for his first appearance in this sphere, could be capable of showing a huge amount of improvement in only his second start.

A half-brother to Cheltenham Festival winner Might Bite, as well as Grade One winner Beat That, Mighty Park is bred to be good and could hardly have impressed any more than he did in his sole outing to date.

A hugely exciting and intriguing contender, Mighty Park could produce something special for team Closutton and JP McManus, or a lack of experience could find him out at this level. He's a fascinating runner in the line-up and one to watch carefully.

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Talk The Talk

9/25.50 to win the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Exciting prospect Talk The Talk gained Leopardstown redemption at Grade One level when landing a Dublin Racing Festival success over talented rivals Ballyfad and King Rasko Grey. He showed a great turn of foot to make up ground let on, getting up in the shadows of the post. 

In his previous start, the flashy chestnut fell at the last flight when looking likely, but not guaranteed, to beat Skylight Hustle in his first top level appearance. He had previously beaten I'm Slippy by seven-and-a-half-lengths to land Grade Three glory at Fairyhouse, following on from a maiden win at Limerick in his first start for Joseph O'Brien.

The five-year-old clearly possesses plenty of raw ability and has been able to gain valuable experience so far this term in four starts. Things haven't always panned out favourably for him during races, but he has shown will and determination to get himself out of a tricky situation which should hold him in good stead against some less experienced rivals in this field.

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El Cairos

5/16.00 to win the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Gordon Elliott-trained El Cairos was purchased for £410,000 from the David Maxwell dispersal sale, having shown a great amount of potential during his novice campaign last term for Gary and Josh Moore.

The point winner made a successful start in a Newbury bumper, before finishing a creditable fifth to Bambino Fever in the Champion Bumper. He found only Baron Noir too good at Punchestown, but emerged from his debut season as an exciting prospect over obstacles in future.

Since switching to the Cullentra yard, the son of No Risk At All has impressed despite stumbling and falling late on in his maiden hurdle at Leopardstown. He looked set to make a successful beginning over timber that day prior to the freak incident after last flight, but put it right at Thurles when last seen in January to beat Roc Dino by three-lengths.

Further improvement is required, particularly in the jumping department having been untidy at the last when recording his latest success, and he cannot afford to make too many mistakes in a Supreme Novices' Hurdle. The talent is clearly there but whether or not he'll be able to put it all together on the day is another matter.

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Mydaddypaddy

13/27.50 to win the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

A bumper winner at Huntingdon last spring, Mydaddypaddy recorded two wins from his first two starts over obstacles, making him a well touted Supreme hope for the Dan Skelton yard going into his first Graded assignment at Christmas.

Sent off as the 8/131.61 favourite for the Formby Novices' Hurdle at Aintree, the son of Walk In The Park could only manage second to Idaho Sun, beaten three-and-a-quarter-lengths at the line. He may have had some excuses, with the omitted hurdles due to low sun unlikely to have helped his cause, yet, having suffered his defeat, he drifted in the antepost market and was overtaken by others who went on to enhance their respective reputations.

One defeat is often worthy of forgiveness, particularly for a novice, and Mydaddypaddy shouldn't be ruled out after one disappointment which did come at the highest level. His previous wins were impressive and there's substance to the form considering he beat a number of subsequent winners including Harbour Island, now rated 131, and recent Grade Two runner-up Kosac d'Oudairies.

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Leader d'Allier

17/29.50 to win the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

A five-time bumper winner for Mathieu Pitart, including a Grade Three success at Vichy from which the third and fourth finished sixth and fifth respectively in a subsequent Grade One AQPS bumper at Longchamp, Leader d'Allier is an interesting contender.

The Closutton representative makes only his third start for Willie Mullins since joining from France. He found Ballyfad too good in a Leopardstown maiden previously won by Kopek Des Bordes over the Christmas period, before getting off the mark at Punchestown, in a race previously won by future Supreme runners for the yard including Diverge and Kilcruit, both of whom placed third in their respective runs in the Cheltenham opener.

His route this term could perhaps provide clues to his position in the pecking order earlier in the term when it came to promising novice hurdlers at the yard, and he could be a dark horse in this field, coming into the race unexposed with the ceiling of his ability an unknown currently. He's yet to face a stiff test and, although he has suffered defeat on yard debut, he was entitled to improve for his opening run of the campaign in Ireland in his first hurdling start.

There could be masses of improvement to come from the son of Cokoriko, who is another intriguing runner from the Carlow-based stables.

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Sober Glory

11/112.00 to win the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

The training partnership of Philip Hobbs and Johnson White will be represented by the talented Sober Glory in this year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle, a gelding who has won his last two races by a combined distance of 40-lengths.

Having been supremely impressive recently, the son of Mount Nelson warrants his position as a lively contender for the homeguard in the opening contest of the Festival, seemingly on an upward trajectory having already amassed some valuable experience in success and defeat.

His record isn't faultless following a heavy defeat when sent off at odds of 4/71.57 in a Listed Sandown contest in December, but he bounced back to form in good fashion and there's plenty of substance to his form having beaten the likes of A Pai De Nom in the past.

A progressive type, Sober Glory is unexposed at this level and could find the improvement required to be competitive.

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Baron Noir

33/134.00 to win the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

A four-time winner since joining Alan King, Baron Noir has previously inflicted defeat upon much shorter-priced rival El Cairos when the pair met in a bumper last term. He stuck to the task well that day at Punchestown, fighting back to overtake the eventual second late on, in receipt of 7lb thanks to the claim of rider Rob James.

Since then, Baron Noir has proven efficient over obstacles, winning both of his latest two runs at Uttoxeter and Kempton, respectively. He hasn't appeared as the most methodical jumper, sometimes opting to edge to his right, but has improved with each run this term and remains open to further progression.

Some of his earlier form has been franked having beaten the likes of Kingston Queen as well as the aforementioned El Cairos, and he also finished third at Listed level in a Newbury bumper last term. 

Whilst Baron Noir does warrant respect having shaped with promise and with few blemishes to his record for his current yard, others may have progressed beyond him and he could be vulnerable to a classier rival.

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Eachtotheirown

40/141.00 to win the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Barry Connell has enjoyed a successful period in this race in recent years, winning with Marine Nationale under an excellent Michael O'Sullivan ride in 2023, before achieving second with William Munny twelve months ago.

Eachtotheirown is the yard's representative this time around, a nine-length handicap winner when last seen who was well beaten at Grade Two level in his penultimate start. He has some interesting form from his debut campaign in bumpers, including when second to promising prospect Spinningayarn and when finishing ahead of a subsequent Grade Two and Listed winner in Sticktotheplan, but further progression is required if he is to match the level shown by some of his more fancied rivals.

More exposed than many in the field, he has taken a different route to most of the novices against him this term, gaining different experiences which could hold him in good stead, however, he has a bit to find to match the level shown by others and may be found out at this level.

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Too Bossy For Us

40/141.00 to win the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

The winner of a Punchestown maiden last month, Too Bossy For Us made it third time lucky over obstacles that day having previously been seen on the Flat during the summer of 2025. He finished second to Lot Of Joy in an extended two mile Curragh handicap, before placing third in a 1m5f race at Leopardstown.

Last spring, the son of Golden Horn achieved a seventh-place finish in the Triumph Hurdle behind stablemate Poniros, before finishing fifth in the Punchestown Festival equivalent, shaping with some promise but with further improvement required at the top level.

Too Bossy For Us was a useful performer on the Flat for former trainer Kevin Philippart De Foy, winning at Ascot whilst also placing in competitive handicaps at Thirsk and Haydock respectively, and, in the colours of Absurde and Ethical Diamond, is dangerous to underestimate given his potential for a successful dual campaign in both codes.

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Koktail Brut

66/167.00 to win the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Koktail Brut has a nine-length maiden victory over the useful Colcannon to his name plus a Grade Two success over Blake. He had a valid excuse for a disappointing effort at Leopardstown in December, and put in a much improved performance to emerge with some credit from the hotly contested novice race won by Talk The Talk, finishing six-and-a-half-lengths behind in fourth.

More is needed to have a real say at this level, but he has Graded form in his favour, including from his bumper campaign, which is in his favour compared with a few of his rivals. He has been exposed, however, and would spring a surprise if he was to finish in front, but he's far from a forlorn hope for the places at least, considering some of the form he's shown at his best.

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Sageborough

100/1101.00 to win the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Well beaten by Koktail Brut in a Fairyhouse Grade Two when last seen, Sageborough comes into Supreme with less compelling claims than most of his rivals, but remains unexposed with only two runs to his name, including a maiden win at Wexford, and could be forgiven for one disappointing effort. He lacks much experience but has been seen at Graded level in the past. 

On what he's been able to show to date, he's likely to be found wanting in this company, however, there could be plenty of further improvement to come from him and he's related to a number of black-type achievers and winners.

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Katie Midwinter's Supreme Novices' Hurdle Prediction

1. Talk The Talk

2. El Cairos

3. Old Park Star

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