Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 15: Arcalis ridden by Graham Lee (left) clears the last behind Wild Passion ridden by Paul Carberry but goes on to win The Letheby and Christopher Supreme Novices Hurdle Race during the First Day of the Annual National Hunt Festival at Cheltenham racecourse on March 15, 2005 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is the race that gets the most prestigious meeting in national hunt racing underway. The riders and horses in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle have the honour of being greeted by the famous ‘Cheltenham Roar’ of the massive Cheltenham Festival crowd as they approach the finishing post.

The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is the shorter of the two novices’ hurdle events run at the Cheltenham Festival, and the oldest as well – dating back to 1945. The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is a Grade 1 hurdle race and is contested by horses four years old and above.

The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is run over 2 miles and 110 yards on the Old Course at Prestbury Park and features eight hurdles. The race was originally known as the Gloucestershire Hurdle and was split into two or three divisions, each producing its own winner. In 1972 the format was changed to the one used today, and the name was changed in 1974.

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Betting & Trends

Age: 5-7 age range has won every race over the past five years. 5 & 6 year olds dominant.
Odds: Winners priced between 6/1 and 40/1. No favourite has won the race in the past five years, making this a good lay betting prospect.
Jockey: Different jockies have won each of the races over the past five years.
Trainer: The race title has been passed around between top national hunt trainers, without any winning the race more than once in the past five years.
Supreme Novices' Hurdle Tip: Antepost favourites for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle are priced short enough to make lay betting the best strategy for earning a return from this race.

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Winners

Despite being one of the most enjoyable races at the Cheltenham Festival, few supreme Novices’ Hurdle winners have followed their achievements in the race with notable racing careers. The notable exception is Flyingbolt who won the race in 1964, and matured into a superb racehorse.

Tommy Burns is the undisputed champion jockey of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Cheltenham Festival race, virtually making the race his own between 1955 and 1959 riding seven winners in both divisions of the race, winning both divisions in the same year on two occasions.

Vincent O’Brien was Tommy Burns’ partner during his incredible run in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, and this association ensured that he is remembered as the trainer credited with the most Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winners in the history of the event, with ten of his horses winning the event. 

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