Cheltenham Festival Previews – Supreme Novices’ 1-2-3 Selections
The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle will kick off what looks to be a fantastic Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday. Joe Napier has had his take on what the 1-2-3 will be.
Bring On The Night
In the famous Donnelly silks carried to success in the Supreme by Shishkin two years ago, BRING ON THE NIGHT has the least hurdle form to recommend him on.
It could ensure he is a surprise package coming into the race and he was certainly a useful flat performer in France. He won two of his three starts before joining Willie Mullins from Andre Fabre’s yard. As a son of Gleneagles, he has more of a pedigree for the level.
Nevertheless, someone saw something in him to be a hurdler and he made a striking debut for Mullins just two weeks ago. He went on to win by eight lengths despite looking green and making a mess of the last. There’s every chance he will go on to be a top horse in time.
He will sport a tongue tie for the first time in this race and though there is more to come, this looks a very strong Supreme for him to overcome inexperience.
Constitution Hill
A conveyer belt of speedy riches has glided through the Seven Barrows stables in recent years.
Nicky Henderson is the one British trainer who can be relied upon to serve it up to the Irish invaders, particularly over two miles. Sprinter Sacre, Altior and Shishkin have all done so. Now it may be time for CONSTITUTION HILL.
He showed a glorious turn of foot in heavy conditions in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle. That race was much of a muchness for the top level, but the fourth and fifth have won easily since, so there is form there to be reckoned with.
In fact, he was arguably as impressive on his debut against the useful Might I. Cruising alongside that rival at the last, he blasted clear up the run-in and announced himself as a potential champion. He will have genuine top class rivals to contend with this time, but he looks up to the task.
Dysart Dynamo
Willie Mullins’ six-year-old has done absolutely nothing wrong in four starts, trouncing his opposition each time. And yet he might not even go off as favourite.
It does look to be a vintage supreme and the fact that DYSART DYNAMO is considered strong enough to take a place which may easily have been filled by Sir Gerhard shows the potential he has. The Champion Bumper winner from 2021 has been rerouted to the Ballymore.
Victory at Cork in December came when his yard was under a cloud, but he still did so by 19 lengths. It was the same margin back to the runner-up at Punchestown in the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle next time out.
A couple of fancied rivals underperformed, but the second, Gringo D’aubrelle, is no slouch. He is right in with a chance of making all, as long as he behaves himself at the start. There is just the slightest suspicion about his temperament.
Jonbon
JONBON has long been towards the head of the market for the Supreme, and indeed held the top spot for a while earlier in the season.
He strolled to success from a very decent yardstick at Newbury on debut, despite no rival wanting to lead. The same occurred in the Grade 2 Kennel Gate Novice Hurdle at Ascot a few weeks later. Ultimately, he set a modest temp under Aidan Coleman then quickened clear as he liked.
He arguably was not tested until going to Haydock in January, where he won the Supreme Trial by three lengths. That seriously tested his mettle, which could stand him in good stead. He carried 5lb more than his closest rivals, who have franked the form since.
The reputation of being Douvan’s brother is, if anything, something he has to contend with rather than a strength. But he has the ability to match it and though he has possibly shaped like he wants further, there is no ruling him out.
JPR One
The Tizzards really like JPR One and he was very well fancies for the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last month.
That is often used as a trial for this race, but it did not go to plan, with him fading right out to be second last. He is better than that, but nowhere near enough to threaten here.
Kilcruit
KILCRUIT was only beaten by an inspired ride by Rachael Blackmore aboard Sir Gerhard last season. He was a bumper performer who looked destined for the very top over hurdles.
However, having won Punchestown’s Grade 1 bumper, it did not immediately go to plan over obstacles. He was beaten at the remarkable price of 1/14 at Cork, the same day stablemate Dysart Dynamo destroyed his opposition. Stepped up in trip, he found Journey With Me in his way at Leopardstown.
That was a very strong maiden though and back to the minimum trip, he proved that he may simply have been suffering from freshness earlier this term. He won by 21 lengths in a good time, cutting a much swifter figure over his hurdles.
On the balance of his hurdles form against the top three in the market, he should be a bigger price, but he cannot be ruled out from being back to his very best.
Mighty Potter
There are only two Grade 1 hurdles winners in the field. MIGHTY POTTER is one of them.
Yet despite succeeding at the top level, he finds four ahead of him in the market. He is probably less flashy, but there is little more Mighty Potter could have done in his career so far.
He won by 29 lengths in what was admittedly a weak enough maiden at Down Royal. But for being briefly outpaced off the turn in the Grade 1 Royal Bond, he may even have become a two-time winner at the highest level by now.
Gordon Elliott’s hope was not always fluent at Leopardstown after Christmas, but he nonetheless drew away from stablemate Three Stripe Life stylishly. He will have to improve again, but he is more battle-hardened than his chief rivals.
Shallwehaveonemore
Gary Moore’s charge won a bumper over the very useful Walking On Air last season, but has been frustrating to follow over hurdles.
He was miles too keen at Ascot in October when ground down on the run-in. He subsequently bumped into Constitution Hill in the Tolworth Hurdle.
He has since won impressively and been runner-up in a Grade 2, but that is form a long way below the required standard and difficult to see why he’d be much closer to Constitution Hill here.
Silent Revolution
The six-year-old was a somewhat surprise entry for Paul Nicholls here, with the trainer having his smallest Festival lineup for some time in 2022.
SILENT REVOLUTION did well to assert on his hurdles debut, defeating Broomfield Burg, who is rated in the 130s. That suggests more will be to come, but he surely cannot be winning this.
Verdict
The Brits may briefly gain the Prestbury Cup lead, as CONSTITUTION HILL could well be next in a long line of top class two-milers for Nicky Henderson. He has looked sensational so far and it can be hoped that more is still to come. Kilcruit and Dysart Dynamo are difficult to split for Willie Mullins and are expected to chase the selection home.
- Constitution Hill
- Kilcruit
- Dysart Dynamo