Tips For The Supreme Novices Hurdle 2025 – Can Willie Mullins Be Beaten?
The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the curtain raiser of the prestigious Cheltenham Festival, is set to take centre stage on March 11th, 2025.
This Grade 1 hurdle race has a rich history, dating back to 1946 when it was originally known as the Gloucestershire Hurdle.
In 2024, the race was won by Slade Steel, trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Rachael Blackmore, who secured victory with a strong performance, beating Mystical Power by a length and a half.
The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is renowned for its competitive nature, often providing a thrilling start to the Festival, and it is open to novice hurdlers aged four or older, run over a distance of two miles and half a furlong on the Cheltenham Old Course.
All Eyes on Willie Mullins
With only one day to go until we hear the Cheltenham Roar, all eyes are on whether Willie Mullins, the most successful trainer in the modern era with seven wins.
Mullins has been a force to be reckoned with in this race, often presenting strong contenders.
However, the last time he won this race was 2021 with Appreciate It, despite having the favourite each year since.
In 2022 it was joint favourite Dysart Dynamo, in 2023 it was Facile Vega and in 2024 it was Tullyhill.
This year he will send out Kopek Des Bordes as the odds on favourite but as we’ve seen in the last few years, nothing is a done deal in this race.
Undoubtedly, Mullins will field a strong team, that also includes Salvator Mundi, Irancy, Karbau, Karniquet and Funiculi Funicula but the question remains: can he be beaten?
I suppose it helps if you plan to saddle 50% of the runners in the race!
The Competition
Interestingly, from an odds perspective, and despite the rest of Mullins hand, the next three in the betting are from different trainers.
Romeo Coolio from Gordon Elliott looks like a big threat. This six-year-old has had a successful start to his hurdling career, winning a Grade 1 at Leopardstown over Christmas.
His ability to stay on well and his recent form make him an attractive each-way bet.
Workahead, trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Rachael Blackmore, is another horse to watch, having beaten William Munny by seven lengths at Leopardstown on Boxing Day.
Graeme Rodway at the Racing Post has cited him as the one to watch saying: “he has loads more to offer for last year’s winning stable, with the expectation that he will be even better against stronger opposition.”
The competitive nature of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle market is also worth noting.
Over the last twenty renewals, the average over-round has been around 120%, indicating that bookmakers expect to pay out £100 for every £120 bet.
This suggests that while favourites often have a strong chance, there is always room for an upset, making the race exciting for both punters and spectators.
Recent trends suggest that a strong performance leading up to the Festival is crucial, with ten of the last twelve winners having secured a victory in their most recent race before competing in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
That won’t necessarily help this year as the top eight in the betting markets have all won last time out.
Runners & Odds
The runners for the 2025 Supreme Novices Hurdle have been declared, odds are correct at time of publishing:
| Number | Name | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Kopek Des Bordes | P Townend | W P Mullins | 10/11 |
| 6 | Romeo Coolio | J W Kennedy | G Elliott | 6/1 |
| 12 | Workahead | Rachael Blackmore | H De Bromhead | 7/1 |
| 11 | William Munny | S W Flanagan | B Connell | 8/1 |
| 7 | Salvator Mundi | Mr P W Mullins | W P Mullins | 10/1 |
| 2 | Irancy | M P Walsh | W P Mullins | 14/1 |
| 9 | Tripoli Flyer | J J Burke | F O’Brien | 18/1 |
| 3 | Karbau | S F O’Keeffe | W P Mullins | 28/1 |
| 4 | Karniquet | D E Mullins | W P Mullins | 33/1 |
| 1 | Funiculi Funicula | B Hayes | W P Mullins | 40/1 |
| 8 | Sky Lord | D J O’Keeffe | H De Bromhead | 50/1 |
| 10 | Tutti Quanti | H Cobden | P F Nicholls | 50/1 |
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Tips for the Supreme Novices Hurdle 2025
I’m not going for the favourite given Mulins recent history with sending out short priced favourites who don’t win.
Instead, I’m plumping for Romeo Coolie, a compelling bet for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, offering a solid alternative to the favourite, Kopek Des Bordes.
Trained by Gordon Elliott, Romeo Coolio has shown impressive form, particularly with his dominant win in the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas.
His ability to stay on well and his experience from finishing second in the Champion Bumper last year make him a reliable choice.
While he might not have the raw potential of Kopek Des Bordes, his consistency and class are undeniable.
With a Timeform rating of 150, Romeo Coolio is well-equipped to challenge the favourite and provide a strong return on investment for those backing him each-way.
For a longer odds each-way bet, take a closer look at Tripoli Flyer from Fergal O’Brien who has a great chance of placing.
TIP: Romeo Coolio for the 2025 Supreme Novices
What to Consider
One of the key factors to consider when predicting the outcome of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is the form of the horses in the lead-up races.
Horses that have shown consistent form and have raced recently tend to perform better. Additionally, the dominance of trainers like Mullins and De Bromhead cannot be overlooked.
Mullins’ ability to prepare horses for this event is unparalleled, and his partnership with jockey Paul Townend has been particularly successful.
However, other trainers, such as Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead, have shown they can upset the favourites, as seen with Slade Steel’s win in 2024.
Gordon Elliott’s stable has produced some impressive novice hurdlers in recent years, and his horses often perform well at Cheltenham.
Conclusion
As the race approaches, the anticipation builds, and the question of whether Willie Mullins can be beaten remains a central theme.
While Mullins’ record is impressive, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle has shown time and again that it is a race where anything can happen.
Other trainers and horses will be looking to capitalise on any slip-up from the favourite, making it a thrilling event to watch.
For those looking to place a bet, focusing on horses with recent wins and strong form, as well as considering the historical dominance of certain trainers, will be key.
In conclusion, the 2025 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle promises to be an exciting opener to the Cheltenham Festival.
Whether Mullins can be beaten remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle will once again provide a captivating start to the Festival, filled with drama, excitement, and perhaps a few surprises along the way.
As the racing community gathers at Cheltenham, the roar that greets the start of this race will be as loud as ever, signalling the beginning of another unforgettable week in horse racing.
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