Supreme Novices Hurdle Tips 2026 - Cheltenham Festival

Last Updated on 28/01/2026 by Andy Clark

Adam O’Brien is a seasoned horse racing tipster with a particular focus on Cheltenham Festival ante-post betting. With years of experience analysing form, trainer patterns, and festival trends, Adam provides expert insights to help punters navigate the high-stakes world of National Hunt racing. Known for his clear, practical advice and knack for spotting value in early markets, he has built a reputation among both casual punters and serious Festival followers.

The traditional curtain-raiser to the Cheltenham Festival, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle kicks off the four-day feast of racing at Prestbury Park on Tuesday 10th March and our expert tipster has made his predictions and given two betting tips.

Famous for its’ ‘Cheltenham Roar’ which heralds the start of the race as the runners break the tape and gets the 2026 Cheltenham Festival underway in earnest, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle has a habit of throwing up top-class horses and a brief look back through the list of winners of the race certainly backs that up as a race to watch!

Constitution Hill, Shishkin, Altior, Douvan, Vautour, Champagne Fever, Al Ferof, Menorah and Brave Inca are just a few graduates of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle who have gone on to great things in their careers with a host of Grade One victories to their respective names. Could the 2026 renewal throw up another?

2026 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Ante-Post Tip

This race saw a new name at the top of the market following last weekend’s action due to a demolition of a performance from Old Park Star in the Rossington Main (Supreme trial) at Haydock, which saw him beat a well-respected Hurricane Pat by 18 lengths. That performance was given a RPR of 150, and he rightly sits at the top of the pile and is surely the one the others must get up to, if they are going to compete in the day 1 opener.

Before that weekend, I would have said the race was wide open. The majority of the top 10 in the betting seem destined for the race, and they all look like they can be competitive based on their previous performance. At a time when Willie Mullins (seemingly) has no standout novice or a certain A-lister in the race, plenty of trainers would be fancying their chances.

Old Park Star is short enough now (9/4 across the board), but he’s earned that right after 3 solid performances, which have seen him improve with every run, and he has done this with the minimum of fuss.

The next 3 in the betting seem very talented and pose a threat, but they still have questions to answer. El Cairos (5/1) looked very good at Xmas on hurdling debut, but the Champion Bumper 5^th from last season, took a stumbling fall at the last (unlucky to do so) to pass up his chance of winning in the style it looked like he would. He’s skipping the DRF in favour of an easier prep in a maiden, so will arrive in the Supreme, with no graded form to note. You couldn’t be but impressed though, and if he shows that ability again in his next start, then hes 1 of only a few that I believe can beat the favourite.

3^rd in the betting takes us to another horse who impressed over Christmas but couldn’t finish the job, in Talk The Talk, who also stumbled on landing when coming to win the Grade 1 Future Novices Hurdle. Pardon the pun, but there has been a lot of talk on this horse since that race, and he is now as short as 8/1 in places (having been 14/1 for a few days after). He did his impressing in a Grade 1, though and even though many in the race didn’t fire, you would have to be impressed with the way he went past horses before unshipping. Although he impressed many and isn’t without a chance, he’s one at the top end of the market that I’m not keen on, as I wasn’t sure about his jumping technique or landing. I’m more inclined to favour and forgive El Cairos over Talk The Talk.

You can win a Supreme Novices Hurdle (Shishkin) with an F (fall) in your form book, but you would want to see both horses complete in their prep run to be taking a shortish price.

Mydaddypaddy (12/1) was the horse at the top of the betting at Christmas, but now finds himself down the pack due to his loss to Idaho Sun (16/1) in Aintree’s Grade 1 feature. I wouldn’t be surprised if either won the Supreme, but I would say they have a fair few lbs to find if they are going to go close here. Idaho Sun is probably overpriced for that win, though. Even though some hurdles were omitted, he found more and beat Mydaddypaddy fair and square, and there’s no guarantee MDP could turn that form around, so I’m surprised he’s 4 points shorter.

Another notable contender is MOSSY FEN ROAD (16/1), who bolted up at Chepstow over Christmas. How good that race was or how good this horse is can be questionable, but he’s one that can’t be dismissed. It looks like the Harry Derham horse and Idaho Sun will race again before Cheltenham (MFR entered at Musselburgh at the weekend), so here’s hoping we see them and get more answers about the ability they may or may not possess.

Other horses who could interest me, but I’m not sure if they will turn up here or go elsewhere, are King Rasko Grey (could go to the Turners Novices Hurdle) and Mighty Park (impressive on debut last week but could also be a Turners horse). KRG has shortened for the 2m race at the DRF at the weekend, and also consequently the Supreme, which may give us a steer. But I would want to see what he can do on the weekend before committing.

Old Park Star is clearly the likely winner and the one that is very likely to go off favourite come the start of the Festival. In terms of a bet now though, I would suggest that EL CAIROS (5/1) is the one that could put it up to Old Park Star and I want him on my side as I believe he could be just as good.

One at a bigger price for a Supreme Novices’ Hurdle each-way tip that I hope can run well for the smaller stable is Mossy Fen Road (16/1). Due to his connections, it’s not crazy to see him going off an even bigger price on the day, though, so he’s one I would wait for until we see his final run.