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Spinal Research Supreme Novices Hurdle
Race Conditions
The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1:30pm) is the traditional Festival curtain raiser. It is run over the Champion Hurdle course and distance of two miles and about half a furlong. It is open to novices aged four years old and upwards, and the total prize fund is £100,000.
Recent Winners
The race always attracts a large field and, therefore, experience of competing in similar conditions is often of paramount importance. As always, the ground is also crucial. If the going is on the quick side, then the flat bred runners often hold the key.
The Irish have won seven of the renewals since the turn of the century and the race invariably throws up a star of the future. Indeed, in the last decade both Brave Inca and Hors La Loi III have followed up victory here by triumphing in the Champion Hurdle.
The race has also had an impact on the Gold Cup in recent years. Best Mate was second to Sausalito Bay in 2000, Kicking King was second to Back In Front in 2003 and War Of Attrition was second to Brave Inca in 2004.
| Year | Horse | Age | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Menorah | 5 | P J Hobbs | 12/1 |
| 2009 | Go Native | 6 | N Meade | 12/1 |
| 2008 | Captain Cee Bee | 7 | E P Harty | 17/2 |
| 2007 | Ebaziyan | 6 | W P Mullins | 40/1 |
| 2006 | Noland | 5 | P Nicholls | 6/1 |
| 2005 | Arcalis | 5 | J Howard Johnson | 20/1 |
| 2004 | Brave Inca | 6 | C Murphy | 7/2F |
| 2003 | Back In Front | 6 | E O’Grady | 3/1F |
| 2002 | Like-A-Butterfly | 8 | C Roche | 7/4F |
| 2000 | Sausalito Bay | 6 | N Meade | 14/1 |
| 1999 | Hors La Loi III | 4 | M Pipe | 9/2 |
| 1998 | French Ballerina | 5 | P Flynn | 10/1 |
| 1997 | Shadow Leader | 6 | C Egerton | 5/1 |
| 1996 | Indefence | 5 | J Pitman | 25/1 |
| 1995 | Tourist Attraction | 6 | W Mullins | 25/1 |
| 1994 | Arctic Kinsman | 6 | N Twiston-Davies | 50/1 |
| 1993 | Montelado | 6 | P Flynn | 5/1 |
| 1992 | Flown | 5 | N Henderson | 13/2 |
| 1991 | Destriero | 5 | A Geraghty | 6/1 |
| 1990 | Forest Sun | 5 | T Balding | 7/4F |
| 1989 | Sondrio | 8 | M Pipe | 25/1 |
(prior winners detailed at bottom of page)
Key Trends (includes 2010 Festival)
12 of the last 14 winners won last time out.
Only 6 favourites have won in the last 31 runnings and none in the last 6 years.
7 out of the last 10 winners were Irish-trained.
10 of the last 11 winners ran in the previous 45 days.
Race Facts
1. The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle was known as the Gloucestershire Hurdle until 1974. Capel Cure Sharp backed the contest in 2000 and the company, which became Gerrard Wealth Management, supported the race until 2003. Racecourse caterers Letheby & Christopher became the sixth sponsor since the initial backer Lloyds Bank in 1974 when supporting the contest in 2004 and 2005, while Anglo Irish Bank was the sponsor from 2006 to 2008. Bookmakers William Hill sponsored the race in 2009 and this year the backers were the Stewart Family, on behalf of the charity Spinal Research.
2. The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is the only race at The Festival to have been divided. From 1946-1971 when known as the Gloucestershire Novices’ Hurdle, it divided on no less than 25 occasions. In 1963 and 1946 there were even three divisions.
3. The oldest horse to have won was 12-year-old Beau Caprice in 1966 (Div One). Three eight-year-olds have also been successful - Like-A-Butterfly in 2002, Sondrio in 1989 and Boys Hurrah in 1956 (Div One).
4. The 1993 winner, Montelado, holds a unique position in the history of The Festival at Cheltenham. He is the only horse to have won consecutive Festival races, landing the Champion Bumper in 1992, the last race of that year’s meeting, and returning to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 1993, the first race 12 months later.
5. The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle has thrown up one winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup and three Champion Hurdle heroes. L'Escargot won in 1968, before consecutive Gold Cup triumphs in 1970 and 1971. Bula scored in 1970, before Champion Hurdle victories in 1971 and 1972, the 2002 Champion Hurdle winner Hors La Loi III took the race in 1999, and Brave Inca took the Champion Hurdle in 2006 having landed the novice event two years earlier.
6. The race has been won by Irish-trained raiders on no less than 38 occasions, and by the French once. Of the 16 divisions from 1952-59, Vincent O'Brien won an amazing 10. Ireland also kept a stranglehold on the race for seven years from 1977-83 and has won seven of the last ten runnings, most recently with Go Native in 2009.
7. The smallest field was in 1950, with nine runners in Division 1, and the largest, 30 runners, for both Harry Hastings' win in 1985 and French Ballerina’s success in 1998. The maximum field allowed is now 24.
8. Since the race ceased to be divided, big-name jockeys have found the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle difficult to win. Tony McCoy, successful on Hors La Loi III in 1999, is the only one of the last four champion jockeys to have scored in this particular contest, and only Charlie Swan (1993 and 2002), Tommy Carmody (1980 and 1983) and Niall Madden (1978 and 1981) have been successful twice.
9. The longest-priced winner was Arctic Kinsman at 50/1 in 1994, while the 2007 victor Ebaziyan is one of only two 40/1 shots to have scored. The shortest-priced winners at 4/9 were Tsaoko in 1950 and Flyingbolt in 1964. Favourites have been successful eight times in the 38 runnings since 1972, with three of the last nine winning.
10. The fastest time for the winning horse was achieved by Montelado in 1993 at 3m 50.6s. French Ballerina came close to that record in 1998 when her time was 3m 50.9s.
2010 Supreme Novices Hurdle Review
Dunguib was sent off the 4-5 favourite for the 2010 Cheltenham Festival opener due to an unbeaten run over hurdles and that sensational bumper performance last year, but he couldn't get to MENORAH and Get Me Out Of Here up the hill.
Richard Johnson kicked on aboard the Philip Hobbs-trained winner turning for home and that move proved to be decisive as Get Me Out Of Here couldn't quite catch him after the final flight under a strong AP McCoy drive.
They didn't go a breakneck gallop and Menorah was always at the front end but he jumped slickly and didn't look like being overhauled in the closing stages. Get Me Out Of Here was defeated for the first time in his career but he appeared to have no excuses and he remains an exciting prospect.
The same can be said of Dunguib who was given an awful lot to do and just couldn't get there. Oscar Whisky would've finished closer but for mistakes and Flat Out ran well for a long way, with experience perhaps his undoing in the end.
The first race of every Festival, The 2010 Supreme Novice Hurdle, gets underway
2009 Supreme Novices Hurdle Review
The traditional Festival opener was run on ground officially described as good to soft, soft in places, a description that was backed up by a winning time that was around nine seconds slower than standard.
The race fell to the Irish, once again, but it was one of their least fancied raiders, GO NATIVE, who took the honours. In fact, he turned out to be an impressive winner, stalking the leaders throughout and quickening impressively off the final bend. The ease with which he travelled suggests he may be capable of stepping up to championship standard next season. In fact, he probably hit the front too soon, and would probably benefit from being held up for longer.
Medermit was the one closing Go Native down as the line approached. He may have been flattered slightly by his proximity to the winner, but this was a fine effort nonetheless and he was done no favours by Cousin Vinny’s mistake at the last. He raced in midfield throughout the early part of the race, but was outpaced as the tempo increased. Given that he was doing most of his best work at the end, he may be worth a try over further.
Somersby ran his best race to date in third. Like the runner up, he stayed on well up the hill and is a fine chasing prospect and could well be back here next year for the Arkle.
Fencing is also likely to be high on the agenda for the fourth, Copper Bleu. He looked to have run his race when he was headed on turning for home, but he plugged on gamely all the way to the line.
All the pre race gossip had focused on the warm ante post favourite Cousin Vinny, who had reportedly not travelled over well. His trainer, Willie Mullins, was much happier with him on the morning of the race and he wasn’t too far off the winner in fifth.
Given his build up to the race, he probably shouldn’t be judged on this performance. His jumping was sketchy at best, and it may be that he needs further than 2 miles.
Red Moloney could never quite land a blow, and would probably have preferred better ground and a faster pace.
By contrast, Shoreacres was up with the pace throughout and this was another good Festival performance from Brendan Powell’s stable star, following his fourth behind Cousin Vinny is last year’s bumper.
The rest were well strung out, with neither of the well backed pair of Torphichen (9th) nor Kempes (12th) ever really giving their supporters much cause for hope.
Paul Carberry and Go Native take the honours for Ireland
2008 Supreme Novices Hurdle Review
Plenty of rain had fallen in the Cheltenham area in the run up to the 2008 Festival, meaning that the ground was very much on the soft side when the Supreme Novices Hurdle finally got underway. This was reflected in the time, which was 10 seconds slower than that recorded last year.
An excellent field had gathered for the traditional curtain raiser, with some top class Flat recruits (six of the runners boasted ratings on the level of 100 plus) locking horns with some of the best bumper horses from last season.
The race turned out to particularly noteworthy for legendary Irish gambler JP McManus, who owned the first two home in the shape of CAPTAIN CEE BEE and Binocular.
The duo had the race between them approaching the last and whilst the runner up appeared to be travelling better than the winner for A P McCoy, Captain Cee Bee asserted under Robert Thornton on the run to the line to win well in the end.
The winner is eight now and so may not have as much improvement in him as some of his rivals. However, he is thought by connections to be a horse who would relish better ground than he encountered here and so there could be more to come from him over hurdles. Alternatively he has the scope to jump fences.
Binocular would also have preferred a quicker surface and so lost nothing in defeat. He finished nicely clear of the third and, unlike his conqueror, has youth on his side. He travelled like the best horse for much of the race and, despite his inexperience, seemed to cope well with the big occasion. He could develop into a genuine Champion Hurdle contender next season for his shrewd trainer.
Snap Tie, in third, was also inconvenienced by the recent rain and he was a tired horse on the run in. He is another one with a big future ahead of him as he has always been held in the highest regard by Phillip Hobbs. If he doesn’t make the top grade over hurdles next season he should be a cracking chaser in due course.
The same is true of the fourth, Kalahari King, who we could easily see back here next March contesting the Arkle. He couldn’t quite match the pace of the first three when it really mattered, but he had plenty of good horses behind him and this was a career best effort, providing further evidence of Ferdy Murphy’s ability to get his horses to peak at the Festival.
Rippling Ring (fifth) should be even better next season after he has had more time to acclimatise to his new home, whilst Blue Bajan (sixth) was still travelling really well coming down the hill and may have been given too much to do.
Tranquil Sea is the other horse to note as he mixed it up front with the leaders for a long way before finally giving in up the home straight. He’ll be an exciting proposition over the larger obstacles next year.
2007 Supreme Novices Hurdle Review
After weeks of seemingly incessant rain, the 2007 Festival began under sparkling blue skies on a stunning spring day at Prestbury Park.
Thankfully, the few drying days we had enjoyed leading up to the opening event had dried the ground up significantly from almost unraceable a week earlier to going reported by the jockeys to be dead, and a mixture of soft, good to soft and good.
Unfortunately for punters, it didn’t take long for the first big plunge of the meeting to go down as hot favourite Amaretto Rose, was eventually beaten into third by the surprise winner EBAZIYAN and Granit Jack.
EBAZIYAN started a relatively unfancied 40/1 shot, but there was no denying the merit of his victory. He was locked in a battle for the lead with the second and third from the last, but pulled away in impressive fashion halfway up the straight. The horse is very lightly raced and beautifully bred, and should, therefore, be open to bags of improvement. He isn’t short of speed, but showed ample stamina as well, galloping all the way to the line. The one question mark would have to be the quality of the form as it didn’t appear to be the strongest renewal of this race.
Granit Jack almost secured back to back wins in the race for trainer Paul Nicholls and owner Jon Hales. He lost nothing in defeat, however, as he is a big strong, chasing type who has already won a number of races over fences in his native France. He was prominent from a long way out and probably just lacked the winner’s turn of foot. He will be an exciting prospect when switched back to fences next season. A step back up in trip is also sure to suit.
Amaretto Rose certainly gave her many supporters a decent run for their money. The first roar from the crowd at the Festival always greats the start of this race, but we didn’t have to wait long for the second which followed the racecourse commentator’s announcement that Mick Fitzgerald was cutting through the field on this mare as the leaders ran to the top of the hill. She was still swinging off the bridle at the second last, and looked all over the winner at that point. However, as her detractors suspected, she was slightly one paced on the run in and probably needs softer ground to be effective at the highest level over this trip.
De Soto has already run two cracking races at previous Festivals, and his fourth here was another top class performance. He could never quite get to the leaders on this rain softened ground, and is definitely better on quicker going. He may also prefer 2½ miles, but a big race win surely awaits.
Wins Now was a fast finishing fifth to suggest that he too may be better over further. He is built to jump fences and on the evidence of this performance is a very exciting prospect.
Special Envoy and Tyson also both deserve a mention.
Special Envoy belied odds of 125/1 to run a blinder in seventh, despite making a hash of the last. He travelled like a decent horse for much of the race and is now starting to show his Flat race form over hurdles.
Tyson, was also going well in behind the leaders coming down the hill. He just seemed to run out of petrol on the long climb to the finish but was not disgraced back in ninth. He was top class on the Flat in South Africa and could still have more to offer given that this was only his second start over hurdles.
Kicks For Free is hugely talented, but his last few runs have given the impression that he may have some sort of physical problem. Hopefully, that can be sorted out over the summer. Hide The Evidence was a big disappointment, but threw away his chance by pulling too hard early on.
2006 Supreme Novices Hurdle Review
The 2006 Festival got underway under cloudy skies on a bitterly cold day, but the action on the course was red hot from the outset as NOLAND got up in the shadow of the post to pip Straw Bear in the Supreme Novice Hurdle. It was a great start to the meeting for the Paul Nicholls / Ruby Walsh combination, who went on to win the top trainer and top jockey titles at the meeting. It was also a good start for punters, as Noland was second favourite on the day and had been well supported for this race ever since his impressive win in the Tolworth Hurdle.
Victory for this strapping, chasing sort didn’t look likely turning for home - one £20 exchange player was £19,980 worse off for laying the winner at 999-1 in running. However, Walsh managed to galvanise his mount on the climb to the hill and they won by a neck in the end. There was always a concern that Noland might lack a bit of pace for this contest, but despite the good ground he just managed to stay close enough to the leaders throughout the contest to give his stamina a chance to save the day.
He is perhaps the most imposing horse in the field and he’ll now go chasing, with next year’s Arkle likely to be his aim.
Straw Bear lost nothing in defeat. He ran a fine race considering he would probably have preferred softer ground. Indeed, had it not been for a mistake at the last he may have held on. Given his flat pedigree he is likely to stay over hurdles and may be good enough to make the Champion Hurdle line up. However, the statistics suggest connections should have another big race in mind as amazingly enough the last three Gold Cup winners had all previously finished as runner up in this race.
Buena Vista's performance turned out to be a rare highlight for Martin Pipe in an otherwise thoroughly forgettable Festival for the champion trainer. He always looked to have a decent each way chance given his form earlier on in the season, including that with Noland.
Of the rest, the others to note are Sublimity, who was unlucky not to finish third and should improve for more experience and even better ground, and Natal, who’ll be another exciting recruit to chasing next year.
The disappointment was the Irish hot pot, Sweet Wake. There was always the risk that this horse had been over-hyped going into the race and his form certainly suggested that he had to improve to play a part in the finish. It appeared that he wasn’t able to do so, however connections think that this wasn’t his true running and so he may still be capable of justifying his reputation.
Immediately after the race, Noland was given a 12-1 quote by William Hill for the 2007 Arkle and Straw Bear 25-1 for the Champion Hurdle.
Roll of Honour (1946-1988)
(recent winners detailed towards top of page)
Citroen Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 1994-99,Trafalgar House Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 1991-93, Waterford Crystal Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 1978-90, Lloyds Bank Champion Novice Hurdle 1974-1977, Gloucestershire Hurdle before 1974)
Year Winner Age/Wt Jockey Trainer SP
1988 Vagador 5-11-08 Mark Perrett Guy Harwood 4/1F
1987 Tartan Tailor 6-11-08 Phil Tuck Gordon Richards 14/1
1986 River Ceiriog 5-11-07 Steve Smith Eccles Nicky Henderson 40/1
1985 Harry Hastings 6-11-08 Chris Grant John Wilson 14/1
1984 Browne’s Gazette 6-11-08 Mr Dermot Browne Michael Dickinson 11/2
1983 Buck House 5-11-08 Tommy Carmody Mouse Morris IRE 8/1
1982 Miller Hill 6-11-08 Tom Morgan Dessie Hughes IRE 20/1
1981 Hartstown 6-11-08 Niall Madden Mick O'Toole IRE 2/1F
1980 Slaney Idol 5-11-08 Tommy Carmody Liam Browne IRE 9/1
1979 Stranfield 6-11-08 Tommy Kinane Des McDonogh IRE 16/1
1978 Golden Cygnet 6-11-08 Mr Niall Madden Edward O'Grady IRE 4/5F
1977 Mac’s Chariot 6-11-08 Dessie Hughes Mick O’Toole IRE 7/1
1976 Beacon Light 5-11-08 Andy Turnell Bob Turnell 14/1
1975 Bannow Rambler6-11-08 Frank Berry Padge Berry IRE 9/2
1974 Avec Moi 5-11-06 Roger Rowell Auriol Sinclair 5/4F
1973 King Pele 4-10-10 David Nicholson Gavin Pritchard-Gordon 13/2
1972 Noble Life 5-11-06 Stan Murphy Christy Grassick IRE 16/1
1971(I) Persian Majesty 4-10-13 Terry Biddlecombe Ryan Price 13/2
1971 (II) Barnard 7-12-00 Johnnie Haine Fulke Walwyn 4/1
1970 (I) Ballywilliam Boy 5-12-00 Bobby Coonan Paddy Sleator IRE 4/1
1970 (II) Bula 5-12-00 Paul Kelleway Fred Winter 3/1F
1969 (I) Normandy 4-11-02 Terry Biddlecombe Fred Rimell 10/1
1969 (II) Private Room 5-11-10 Willie Robinson Fulke Walwyn 10/1
1968 (I) King Cutler 5-12-00 Brian Fletcher Denys Smith 85/40
1968 (II) L’Escargot 5-12-04 Tommy Carberry Dan Moore IRE 13/2
1967 (I) Chorus 6-11-12 Johnnie Haine Tom Jones 15/2
1967 (II) Early To Rise 7-11-12 Jeff King Bob Turnell 11/2
1966 (I) Beau Caprice 12-12-02 Tommy Jennings Fulke Walwyn 6/1
1966 (II) Fosco 5-11-06 David Moore Mick Goswell 7/2
1965 (I) Red Tears 5-11-06 Stan Mellor Tom Jones 7/1
1965 (II) Havago 6-12-04 Bobby Beasley Paddy Sleator IRE 11/8
1964 (I) Flyingbolt 5-12-02 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper IRE 4/9F
1964 (II) Elan 5-12-02 Dave Dick John Sutcliffe 9/2
1963 (I) Honour Bound 5-11-10 Terry Biddlecombe Fred Rimell 3/1F
1963 (II) Buona Notte 6-11-08 Johnnie Haine Bob Turnell 7/2
1963 (III) Deetease 5-12-02 Clive Chapman Basil Foster 9/1
1962 (I) Tripacer 4-10-12 Tommy Carberry Dan Moore IRE 20/1
1962 (II) Clerical Grey 4-11-02 Willie Robinson P Murphy IRE 100/8
1961 (I) Beau Normand 5-11-06 Bill Rees Bob Turnell 5/1
1961 (II) Greektown 5-12-02 Michael Scudamore Willie Stephenson 100/8
1960 (I) Blue Mountain 6-11-05 Dick Broadway George Todd 5/1
1960 (II) Bastille 5-10-13 Bill Woods Tom Masson 3/1
1959 (I) York Fair 5-11-10 Tommy Burns Vincent O’Brien IRE 4/5F
1959 (II) Albergo 5-11-06 Doug Page Clem Magnier IRE 9/1
1958 (I) Admiral Stuart 7-11-12 Tommy Burns Vincent O’Brien IRE 6/5F
1958 (II) Prudent King 6-11-08 Tommy Burns Vincent O’Brien IRE 3/1F
1957 (I) Tokoroa 6-12-01 Dave Dick Fred Rimell 5/4F
1957 (II) Saffron Tartan 6-11-12 Tommy Burns Vincent O’Brien IRE 10/11F
1956 (I) Boys Hurrah 8-11-08 Tommy Burns Vincent O’Brien IRE 9/4F
1956 (II) Pelargos 5-11-06 Tommy Burns Vincent O’Brien IRE 6/4F
1955 (I) Vindore 6-11-12 Mr Phonsie O’Brien Vincent O’Brien IRE Evs F
1955 (II) Illyric 6-11-08 Tommy Burns Vincent O’Brien IRE 3/1F
1954 (I) Stroller 6-11-08 Pat Taaffe Vincent O’Brien IRE 13/8F
1954 (II) Tasmin 4-10-07 Rene Emery Harry Count FR 5/1
1953 (I) Assynt 5-11-01 Eddie Newman Danny Morgan IRE 9/4F
1953 (II) Dessin 7-11-08 Johnny Gilbert Frank Hudson 100/9
1952 (I) Cockatoo 6-11-03 Mr Phonsie O’Brien Vincent O’Brien IRE 4/1
1952 (II) Evian 4-10-07 Fred Winter George Archibald 10/1
1951 (I) Red Stranger 4-10-12 Denis Dillon Ron Smyth 100/8
1951 (II) Oukileles II 4-10-12 Fred Winter George Archibald 6/1
1950 (I) Tsaoko 5-11-08 Martin Molony Sam Armstrong 4/9F
1950 (II) Sir Charles 4-10-04 Mr Michael Scudamore Geoffrey Scudamore 25/1
1949 (I) French Wedding 4-10-07 Jimmy Brogan Gerry Wilson 11/2
1949 (II) Tough Guy 4-10-00 Denis Dillon Ivor Anthony 4/1
1948 (I) Vulgan 5-10-10 Rickie Black John De Moraville 9/2
1948 (II) Jean’s Last 6-11-00 Bryan Marshall Fulke Walwyn 7/4F
1947 No race
1946 (I) Prince Rupert 5-11-03 Ron Smyth Ted Smyth 9/2
1946 (II) Freetown 6-11-00 George Archibald W Larkin 8/1
1946 (III) Gremlin 5-10-10 Phil Canty George Todd 5/1