The roar when the tape rises for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle will probably be heard across the Irish Sea as it signals the start of the Cheltenham Festival 2025.
The opening race of the four-day National Hunt feast of racing is a fascinating contest and is often a pointer to future Cheltenham champions.
The likes of Douvan, Altior and Shiskin have subsequently gone on to win bigger and more prestigious races in the following years.
This year’s renewal offers the prospect of similarly high-class horses lining up. None more so than the Willie Mullins-trained Kopek Des Bordes.
An easy victory in a Grade One event at Leopardstown on his last run in February made it two from two and the odds on him winning the Supreme Novices Hurdle tumbled as a result.
This year the race will be renamed so can Kopek Des Bordes win the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2025?
Honouring Michael O’Sullivan
The 2025 opener has been temporarily renamed to honour the memory of Michael O’Sullivan, a talented young jockey who tragically passed away on February 16th 2025.
The race, pays tribute to O’Sullivan’s remarkable but short-lived career and this poignant gesture recognises O’Sullivan’s greatest triumph, when he rode Marine Nationale to victory in the very same race during the 2023 Festival.
The decision to rename the race came as a joint initiative from The Jockey Club and Sky Bet, with the full support of O’Sullivan’s family, who expressed deep pride in seeing his talent and legacy acknowledged in such a meaningful way.
This tribute not only celebrates O’Sullivan’s skill and passion for the sport but also serves as a touching reminder of the impact he made on the racing community in his brief but brilliant career.
Record Of Favourites In The Supreme Novices Hurdle
The record of favourites in the Supreme is a mixed bag and is one of the trends you should think about when betting on Cheltenham Festival races.
Tullyhill was sent off as the 11/4 favourite last year, but it was Slade Steel who ultimately took the honours.
It was still a good race for Mullins who took second with Mystical Power, 4th with Asian master and fifth with Mistergif.
The race favourite however was left languishing in 8th place.
In 2023 Mullins also saddled the favourite with Facile Vega who could only manage second place when up against Marine Nationale from trainer Barry Connell.
Constitution Hill was the one to beat in 2022 but Nicky Henderson’s stable star was not to be outdone, winning by a staggering 22L to Jonbon in second place.
Likewise for Appreciate It in 2021 who made the bookies very happy when he stormed home as the 8/11 odds on favourite for Willie Mullins.
So backing the favourites is something to be aware of when it comes to making your selection, although the winner usually comes from the first four or five horses in the betting.
Picking An Irish Trained Winner
Another Supreme trend to note is that eight of the last 12 winners have been trained in Ireland with Willie Mullins, Henry De Bromhead, Barry Connell and Gordon Elliott all bagging at least one win.
This year, the top eight in the betting markets are all Irish trained, with Mullins potentially saddling five of them.
Mullins, whose first Festival success came in this race with Tourist Attraction in 1995, has options with Kopek Des Bordes, Salvator Mundi, Irancy, Karbau and Kiss Will.
Top of the markets for the Brits is The New Lion, owned by JP McManus but trainer by Dan Skelton, and at time of writing, is a general 20/1 shot to win.
Supreme Novices 2025 Details
The Supreme Novices Hurdle is run over 2m½f and is a Grade 1 race. It is open to horses aged four years or older and currently there are still 37 runners vying for one of the 22 places at the starting line.
Of those potential runners, only two remain unbeaten. They are Kopek Des Bordes and The New Lion, so maybe a little outside bet on Skelton upsetting the party wouldn’t be a bad thing to consider!
The winners of this race are generally five or six years old, with 2021 winner Appreciate It the first seven-year-old winner since Captain Cee Bee in 2008.
The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is always a fast-paced, pulsating way to start the Cheltenham Festival. It is usually a battle between England and Ireland.
This year however, it looks a battle between the Irish trainers.
The Legendary Ruby Walsh
Among the many records associated with this prestigious event, one stands out as a testament to exceptional skill and consistency: Ruby Walsh’s unparalleled success as the leading jockey in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Walsh’s mastery of this challenging opener is evidenced by his impressive tally of six victories.
From his first triumph aboard Noland in 2006 to his final victory with Klassical Dream in 2019, Walsh demonstrated an uncanny ability to navigate the pressures of the Festival’s curtain-raiser.
Walsh’s success in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is even more remarkable considering the race’s reputation as a fiercely competitive contest.
His victories came aboard horses trained by both Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins, showcasing his versatility and skill in partnering with different stables.
Walsh’s ability to consistently deliver in this high-pressure environment, often riding heavily favored mounts, speaks volumes about his tactical acumen and nerves of steel.
The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle has long been a launching pad for future stars of the National Hunt scene, and Walsh’s record is intertwined with some of the most talented horses to have graced the Cheltenham turf.
His wins include notable performances on horses like Champagne Fever, Vautour, and Douvan, all of whom went on to achieve further success at the highest level.
As the 2025 renewal approaches, Walsh’s record stands as a benchmark for excellence in this challenging race.
While new contenders will undoubtedly emerge to vie for supremacy in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Walsh’s legacy as the most successful jockey in the race’s history remains a testament to his extraordinary talent and the indelible mark he has left on the Cheltenham Festival.
BETFRED
