Supreme Novices' Hurdle
13:20 Cheltenham Festival
2025-03-11
Winner: £84,405
Runners: 37
Going: Soft
No. of hurdles: 8
Distance: 2m0f87y
The Skybet Supreme Novices' Hurdle is the first race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival. It is the premier race during the jumps season for the speedier novice hurdlers as it is run over the minimum trip of 2m. As a result the Grade 1 presents a fierce test of accurate jumping at speed. It has been won by some of the most promising horses in recent history, including Altior, Vautour and Douvan, who all went on to win multiple Grade 1 races.
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Past 10 Supreme Novices' Hurdle Winners
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2024 | Slade Steel | 13-112 | 6 | 7-2 | Henry de Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore |
| 2023 | Marine Nationale | 1111 | 6 | 9-2 | Barry Connell | Michael O’Sullivan |
| 2022 | Constitution Hill | 11 | 5 | 9-4J | Nicky Henderson | Nico de Boinville |
| 2021 | Appreciate It | 12-111 | 7 | 8-11F | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2020 | Shishkin | 1-F11 | 6 | 6-1 | Nicky Henderson | Nico de Boinville |
| 2019 | Klassical Dream | 24P-11 | 5 | 6-1 | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2018 | Summerville Boy | 1-2231 | 6 | 9-1 | Tom George | Noel Fehily |
| 2017 | Labaik | 11RR6 | 6 | 25-1 | Gordon Elliott | Jack Kennedy |
| 2016 | Altior | 6-1111 | 6 | 4-1 | Nicky Henderson | Nico de Boinville |
| 2015 | Douvan | 21-11- | 5 | 2-1F | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
Supreme Novices' Hurdle Key Trends and Stats
Key trends
- Aged between five and six, 9/10
- Won a Graded hurdle, 9/10
- A starting price in single-figure odds, 9/10
- Won last time out, 8/10
- Adjusted RPR of at least 157, 8/10
- Irish-trained, 6/10
Other factors
- Constitution Hill (2022) and Douvan (2015) are the only favourites to have obliged in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in the last decade.
- Appreciate It (2021) is one of just three horses aged seven or above to have won the Supreme this century, alongside Captain Cee Bee (2008) and Like-A-Butterfly (2002).
Check out all of our latest Cheltenham Free Bets ahead of placing your bets on the 2025 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - Supreme Novices' Hurdle 2024
Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead got the Irish off to a brilliant start when Slade Steel, who gave the jockey and trainer their first victory in the Cheltenham Festival curtain-raiser. Mystical Power, the son of the great Annie Power, was one and a half lengths behind him in second, while Firefox was a further three and a half lengths back in third. In total, the Irish saddled the first five home, with Britain’s best performer being Favour And Fortune.Tullyhill was sent off the 11-4 favourite, but bitterly disappointed and trailed home in eighth.