Supreme Novices' Hurdle Tips & Odds
The Supreme Novices' Hurdle is the opening race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival and traditionally sets the tone for the four-day meeting at Prestbury Park. Read More
The race was renamed in 2025 in honour of Michael O'Sullivan, who famously won the Supreme aboard Marine Nationale in 2023 and sadly passed away following a fall at the age of just 24.
Below you can compare the latest Supreme Novices' Hurdle odds from leading bookmakers in our live racecard, which also lists the likely runners for the Grade 1 Cheltenham Festival opener.
We also look back at previous winners and key trends ahead of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, while offering our expert Cheltenham tips for the opening race of the meeting.
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Supreme Novices' Hurdle Tips
We will display tips for the 2027 Supreme Novices' Hurdle here closer to the time...
About the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is the traditional curtain raiser on Cheltenham Day 1 known as Champion Tuesday. The race, a Grade 1 contest over two miles and 87 yards, has been won by some legendary names over the years, including Flyingbolt, L’Escargot, Sprinter Sacre and Altior.
It was originally known as the Gloucestershire Hurdle and would be split into either two or three divisions for the first 25 years or so of its lifespan. The legendary trainer Vincent O’Brien dominated the race during this period, winning on ten occasions during the 1950s. The race began being known as the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 1978 when Waterford Crystal began to sponsor it. The race has had several different sponsors since and is currently supported by Sky Bet. A host of Supreme winners have gone on to taste further success at the Cheltenham Festival, including the 2016 winner Altior, who won the 2017 Arkle Trophy and the 2018 and 2019 renewals of the Champion Chase after heading over fences.
Favourite backers once again got off to a flier in 2026 with OLD PARK STAR streaking clear to win the Supreme, although he was perhaps fortuitous to come out the right side of a bunching with second and third Sober Glory and Mydaddypaddy. It was the first British 1-2-3-4 in the race since 2011.
Supreme Novices' Hurdle Key Trends
- Willie Mullins has trained three of the last 10 winners
- Four favourites or joint-favourites have won the last 10 renewals of the Supreme
- Horses aged six (6 wins) and five (3 wins) have dominated the Supreme in the last 10 years
- Eight of the last 10 winners had won their previous race before the Supreme.
Previous Winners Of The Supreme Novices' Hurdle
| Year | Winner | Winning Jockey | Winning Trainer | Starting Price | AGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Old Park Star | Nico De Boinville | Nicky Henderson | 15/8 Fav | 6 |
| 2025 | Kopek Des Bordes | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins | 4/6 Fav | 5 |
| 2024 | Slade Steel | Rachael Blackmore | Henry De Bromhead | 7/2 | 6 |
| 2023 | Marine Nationale | Michael O'Sullivan | Barry Connell | 9/2 | 6 |
| 2022 | Constitution Hill | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson | 9/4 JF | 5 |
| 2021 | Appreciate It | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins | 8/11 Fav | 7 |
| 2020 | Shishkin | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson | 6/1 | 6 |
| 2019 | Klassical Dream | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins | 6/1 | 5 |
| 2018 | Summerville Boy | Noel Fehily | Tom George | 9/1 | 6 |
| 2017 | Labaik | Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott | 25/1 | 6 |
Frequently Asked Questions About The Supreme Novices' Hurdle
When is the Supreme Novices' Hurdle?
The race takes place at 13:20 on Tuesday 16th March 2027.
Where can I watch the Supreme Novices' Hurdle?
Watch the race live on ITV1 and Racing TV which also offer options to stream the race via their streaming services.
Alternatively, most bookmakers offer a free live horse racing stream allowing you to watch the race after you've placed a bet.
Who is the most iconic winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle?
There are plenty of Supreme winners who have gone on to bigger and better things, but perhaps none more so than Altior, who has won at the Cheltenham Festival on three occasions since claiming victory in the 2016 renewal of the race. Having made three starts in bumpers, Altior has well and truly come into his own over obstacles, and has yet to suffer a defeat over them, winning 19 races and counting. He has picked up four festival wins in that time, with the first coming in the 2016 Supreme, before winning the 2017 Arkle Trophy and the 2018 and 2019 renewals of the Champion Chase. Plenty of racing fans and pundits have expressed a strong desire for Altior to step up to three miles and have a crack at the 2019 King George VI Chase at Kempton, though whether connections decide to do so in the 2019/20 season remains to be seen. You can view Cheltenham results going back to 2010 and relive some of those old races.
Are there any trials for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle?
There are several races to note in terms of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle throughout the season, with the most significant being the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown and the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. Other races to note include the Sharp Novices’ Hurdle and the National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle (both at Cheltenham), the Kennel Gate Novices’ Hurdle (Ascot), the Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (Kempton), the Supreme Trial (Haydock), the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Cheltenham) and the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Trial (Kempton). Over in Ireland, it could be worth keeping an eye on the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse, and the Future Champions Novice Hurdle and the Deloitte Novice Hurdle, which are both at Leopardstown.
Who is the most successful jockey in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle?
The most successful jockey in the history of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is Ruby Walsh, who has six wins. Walsh’s six Supreme wins have come on board Noland (2006), Al Ferof (2011), Champagne Fever (2013), Vautour (2014), Douvan (2015) and Klassical Dream (2019).
Who is the most successful trainer in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle?
The most successful trainer in the history of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle is Willie Mullins, who has eight wins to his name. Willie Mullins’ Supreme Novices’ Hurdle wins have come courtesy of Tourist Attraction (1995), Ebaziyan (2007), Champagne Fever (2013) Vautour (2014), Douvan (2015), Klassical Dream (2019), Appreciate It (2021) and Kopek Des Bordes (2025).