Few races are more iconic than the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, which kicks off Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival. The loudest roar of the week erupts from the crowd once the commentator announces the goosebump-inducing words ‘and they’re off’. For many, it will be the start of a wonderful day’s punting, and for others it will set the tone for the week and ante-post vouchers long-clutched over almost a year in the bin in a shade under four minutes.
History of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, January 2025
It’s a good race to start the festival with as the best two-mile novice hurdlers face off against each other and attempt to get their names etched into the history books. Everyone hopes that the winner will go on to be a major force in the Champion Hurdle or become a future star of the chase division.
Run over an extended two miles, whilst it’s primarily for the quickest novices, Flat breeds have a poor record in recent years and the relentless gallop combined with the stiff uphill finish mean that plenty of stamina is also required.
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle: Race Origins
The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle dates back as far as 1946 and was originally called the Gloucestershire Hurdle. Interestingly the race used to be run in two or three divisions which would be entirely unheard of under its current iteration.
Prince Rupert was the first ever winner back in 1946, winning division one, whilst Freetown and Gremlin won divisions two and three respectively. Vincent O’Brien is a legendary figure in the sport and he won it 10 times in the 1950s, including both divisions in 1955, 1956 and 1958. It’s been run as a single race since 1972 and many iconic names have won it over the years, including the likes of Brave Inca, Vautour and current superstar hurdler Constitution Hill, who claimed victory with a dominant display back in 2022.
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle: Top Trainers
Anyone who has followed the sport in recent years wouldn’t be surprised to hear that Willie Mullins holds the record (since 1972) with seven victories and the most recent of those came in 2021 when Appreciate It absolutely demolished a smart field.
Recent history suggests Irish trainers have the edge in general as they have won the race 19 times since 1990, with their British counterparts claiming 14 wins during this period. Nicky Henderson is the go-to British trainer, having won three of the last nine renewals and five times in total.
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle: Top Jockeys
Inarguably one of the best jockeys of the modern era, Ruby Walsh managed to win the race six times during his career. His first success was a memorable one, as Paul Nicholls’ Noland came out of nowhere to swoop on the line in what was one of the best rides Cheltenham has ever seen.
He won the race for Paul Nicholls again five years later on board Al Ferof and his next four wins came for the aforementioned Willie Mullins, the last of which was in 2019 aboard Klassical Dream. Tommy Burns also deserves a mention as he won seven divisions for the great Vincent O’Brien between 1955 and 1959.
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