The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is the traditional curtain-raiser to the Cheltenham Festival, with the Cheltenham roar setting the tone for four days of exhilarating racing action.
Renowned for its fast pace and fiercely competitive nature, this Grade 1 contest consistently attracts the finest young hurdlers.
Victory often marks the emergence of future stars, including Altior, Shishkin Jonbon, and Constitution Hill, who have all scored for Nicky Henderson in the last decade.
As punters eagerly assess the form and potential of this year’s contenders, we take a closer look at the leading favourites in the horse racing odds — those aiming to make their mark in the Festival’s opening spectacle.
Salvator Mundi – 10/3
Second to the classy Sir Gino on his French debut at Auteuil in April 2023, both were subsequently picked up by the Donnellys, and Salvator Mundi was sent to Willie Mullins.
A sixth-place finish in the Triumph Hurdle on stable debut at the Cheltenham Festival didn’t exactly make a massive impression.
However, he returned to win a maiden at Tipperary by a commanding 62 lengths next time out and followed up in a Grade 2 at Punchestown on his reappearance this month.
The manner of that success wasn’t perhaps as convincing as some might have liked, but he remains the favourite for the Supreme.
The New Lion – 4/1
One of the most exciting novice hurdlers this season, The New Lion has left racing fans and pundits alike with three successive wins over the smaller obstacles.
A comfortably bumper winner at Market Rasen on his sole start under rules last season, the six-year-old made the switch to jumps seamlessly with back-to-back wins at Chepstow and Newbury.
It was back at the latter over the festive period that he confirmed his class, storming home in the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle without hardly being asked any questions by Harry Skelton.
That win didn’t go unnoticed, with esteemed owner JP McManus getting out the chequebook to acquire the Dan Skelton-trained horse.
There remain discrepancies amongst operators, as the Baring Bingham appears to be his number one target. But some bookies have The New Lion as short as 4/1 for the Supreme.
Romeo Coolio – 7/1
Labaik’s victory in the 2017 renewal of the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle must be starting to feel somewhat like a distant memory for Gordon Elliott.
However, the Irish trainer has a solid chance of winning the race for a second time with Romeo Coolio after a fantastic performance at Leopardstown over Christmas.
An 18-length winner at Down Royal on his first start over hurdles, the six-year-old was turned over at short odds in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse.
But he bounced back to win the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle by nine lengths and is now 7/1 for the Supreme.
Kopek Des Bordes – 7/1
Another option for Mullins to extend his record in his race to eight victories, Kopek Des Bordes was slashed in the market after winning a Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown on Boxing Day.
A 13-length bumper winner at Fairyhouse last March, anticipation was high for his debut over the smaller obstacles, and he won comfortably enough from stablemate Kawaboomga.
It’s unclear at this point if he’s a Supreme winner, as he didn’t jump with fluency in that success, but the bookies can’t ignore a Mullins horse with potential.
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