Supreme Novices Hurdle Form

The Supreme Novices Hurdle form can be one of the toughest races to work out. Especially as the leading contenders are the winners of the previous years winner and placed horses of the Champion Bumper.

The last two years have seen very short priced favourites beaten in the Supreme Novices Hurdle after winning the Champion Bumper the season before, Dunguib lost in 2010 before Cue Card went down last season. It remains to be seen if that curse will be repeated this season and we will of course be keeping a close eye on all the main challengers.

Supreme Novices 2012 Racecard/Form

We have had the first major trial for the Supreme Novices Hurdle this season and it was the exciting Steps To Freedom who won the Energy Novices Hurdle at the Open Meeting. The Jessica Harrington horse held off a fine effort from Prospect Wells and Ericht up the hill and all three could well end up in the Supreme Novices hurdle at the festival in March.

There is no surprise to see that Willie Mullins has a nice novice hurdler in his yard this season with the exciting Sous Les Cieux featuring highly in the Supreme Novices Hurdle betting. He has won two races in style this season with his most impressive success coming in the Grade 1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle last time out at Fairyhouse. It was a good win in top company on soft to heavy ground which should be taken into account, there is a thought he will wont further in time but for now connections are happy at two miles.

Sous Les Cieux was below par next time out though when he could only manage third place in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas. He went off as a hot favourite for the race but was beaten by Cash And Go and Dylan Ross, he didn't seem to have the speed at this trip and could be moved up.

The Tolowrth Hurdle was the last grade 1 novice hurdle before Cheltenham and we had a highly exciting winner in Captain Conan. It was his first run for Nicky Hednerson since moving from France and he duly won well at Sandown to enter the novice hurdle picture. He held off a game charge from Colour Squadron, who also looks a potential Cheltenham horse, while pre race favourite Prospect Wells was massively below par and never figured.

Nicky Henderson has another Supreme contender in his yard in the form of the exciting Darlan who was particualrly impressive when winning at Taunton recently. The JP McManus horse has won three races in style this season and Barry Geraghty was motionless on board when he won the South West Hurdle at Taunton. Difficult to place his form against his rivals but Darlan looks full of class and could be anything at Cheltenham.

The Alan King trained Montbazon has won his first race ovber hurdles and he will go to the Supreme Novices Hurdle with interesting claims at a nice price. We saw him earlier this season when second at Newbury before Christmas and he improved on that with a win in the Mainden Hurdle at Plumpton recently. Montbazon didnt beat too much that day but he looks to be improving and could be a major player in a wide open betting heat.

Charles Brynes has said that his smart novice hurdler, Trifolium, will head to the Supreme Novices Hurdle after he won well at Punchestown recently. That success saw his Cheltenham price slashed and he looks an improving type. Trifolium also ran well behind So Young earlier in the season at Navan and although he has a bit to find he is improving as we go to the Festival.

• Supreme Novices Hurdle 2011 Form Guide

Cheltenham Festival - Betting Tips