We’re just three weeks away now from the Cheltenham Festival, so it’s time we looked ahead to the Novice hurdle division.
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
With this year’s editions taking a while to warm up for the main part of the season. This was certainly the case in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. The first race on the first day of the festival. Now, the race really needed a horse to come along and stamp their authority on it. That certainly came courtesy of Kopek Des Bordes boards, who was unbeaten in his three career starts and looks a potential star in the making. Despite continuing to do so much wrong still in his races, his ability has proven more than enough, though, to counteract his keen going tendencies, and the fast pace of the Supreme will certainly pay to his advantage. And he looks the one to beat for his fantastic bunch of owners.
Turners Novices’ Hurdle
Now, the first race on day two is the two and a half mile novices’ hurdle. This year it’s known as the Turners Novices’ Hurdle, and Willie Mullins has yet another strong hand. Final demand has a similar profile to Kopek Des Bordes, in the fact that he, too is unbeaten in his three career starts, and he also won at the DRF last time out. But with Kopek going down the two-mile route, this looks final demands division after impressively powering away over two miles at Leopardstown. He looks very capable of staying three miles, but his cruising speed also makes him very effective over the intermediate distance.
Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
The first race on day three sees the turn of the mares in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. All eyes will once again be on Willie Mullins, who sends out Maughreen. Now she is two from two in her career, but she is significantly lacking experience even in this division. Gavin Cromwell has continued to deliver upsets, and big race wins all season, and he has already cited six and a half as his best chance of the week. This mayor has plenty of experience and conditioning to her name already from her runs on the flat, and that might just be the difference maker at this stage of their careers.
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
Now, the final day of the festival is the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, which can be a real war of attrition for these young horses going over three miles. Final demand is also Ante-post favourite for this race, and knowing how Willie Mullins operates, he could just as easily send his horse here. However, he will arguably have more competition in this division, with The Yellow Clay set to line up a winner of his last four getting better with each of his starts as well. He’s never run over three miles but looks likely to stay and has festival experience after finishing sixth in last season’s Champion Bumper.
So which novice hurdler takes your eye? Which Ante-post favourite is worth taking on? Let me know in the comments below.