The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is the race that starts the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday 10 March 2026, 1:20pm on ITV1. If you are planning to open a new betting account for Cheltenham, this is the most important race to have your offer ready for – it is the first bet of the week for hundreds of thousands of punters, and every major bookmaker has a sign-up offer waiting to be claimed.
This page covers the best sign-up offers to use on the Supreme, the existing customer promotions to look out for on race day, which bookmakers offer Best Odds Guaranteed and from what time, and what you need to know about the race itself before you bet.
For all 28 races and every sign-up offer compared side by side, see our Cheltenham free bets hub. For existing customer promotions across the full week, see our Cheltenham existing customer offers guide.
What Is the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle?
The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is the opening race of the Cheltenham Festival — Grade 1, two miles and half a furlong on the Old Course, eight hurdles. It has been run in one form or another since 1946, and despite being the first race on a card of 28, it consistently delivers one of the biggest betting markets of the entire Festival.
The reason is simple: the Supreme is the curtain-raiser, and it features the best novice hurdlers in Britain and Ireland competing at the highest level for the first time. Constitution Hill won it in 2022 before becoming a Champion Hurdle favourite. Douvan won it in 2015. Altior won it in 2016. Shishkin in 2020. The Supreme has an exceptional record of producing horses that go on to become genuine stars of National Hunt racing, which is why it attracts serious money — and serious attention from punters who have been waiting months for the Festival to begin.
The race is traditionally signalled by the Cheltenham Roar — the noise the crowd makes as the tapes go up for the first race of the Festival. If you are watching at home, you will hear it on the ITV broadcast. If you are at the course, you will feel it. Either way, you want a bet on it.
Race details:
- Date: Tuesday 10th March 2026
- Start time: 1:20pm
- Course: Old Course, Cheltenham
- Distance: 2 miles and ½ furlong
- Fences/Hurdles: 8 hurdles
- Grade: Grade 1
- TV: ITV1 and Racing TV
Best Sign-Up Offers for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 2026
These are the sign-up offers from our partner bookmakers. If you do not yet have an account, now is the time — you need your qualifying bet to have settled before the Supreme begins, so sign up and place your qualifying bet in the days beforehand, then use your free bet tokens on race day.
Every offer below gives you free bet credit to use on the Supreme. We have ranked them based on the most useful combination of offer flexibility, BOG coverage, and terms that work specifically for a horse race.
bet365 — Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets ⭐ Top Pick
As well as the sign-up offer, bet365 are also offering a Super Boost at 9am each day on the Cheltenham Festival, so make sure your account is set up and ready for the opening offer on Tuesday.
Why it works for the Supreme: bet365’s free bet credits can be used on any horse racing market, win or each-way, with minimum odds of 1/5. That covers every runner in the Supreme, including short-priced favourites. They also offer BOG from 8am on race day — so whatever price you take in the morning, if the SP is bigger at 1:20pm, bet365 pay you the SP. Live streaming of all 28 Cheltenham races is included.
On race day: The bet365 Super Boost is posted each morning from around 10am. This often features a Grade 1 favourite boosted to an enhanced price. Given the Supreme is the first race, the Super Boost may well feature one of the leading Supreme contenders — worth checking your app by 10am before you finalise your bet.
The offer: Bet £10 on any market at odds of 1/5 or greater, receive £30 in free bet credits. Credits valid 30 days. Available on win or each-way markets on the Supreme.
18+. New customers only. Min £10 qualifying deposit. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. T&Cs apply.
Betfred — Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets
Why it works for the Supreme: The highest headline free bet value in this guide. Three £10 sports free bets plus two £10 acca free bets. The sports tokens cover horse racing win markets — ideal for a single on the Supreme. Betfred’s minimum qualifying odds are 1/1 (evens), meaning you cannot use the free bet on a very short-priced Supreme favourite, but at current market prices, the leading contenders are available at longer prices. Betfred also run extra places on selected Festival handicaps every day — not directly relevant to the Supreme (a Graded race, not a handicap) but relevant if you are building a full day’s betting.
BOG from 8am. Earliest alongside bet365, Boylesports, Ladbrokes and Coral.
The offer: Bet £10 on any sports market at odds of 1/1 (evens) or greater. Receive 3 x £10 sports free bets and 2 x £10 acca free bets. 7-day expiry.
18+. New customers only. Register using a debit card and place your first bet of £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days. Get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets and 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets. T&Cs apply.
Boylesports — Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets
Why it works for the Supreme: A single £40 token is the most flexible free bet format in this guide — no splits across multiple smaller tokens. You can put the full £40 on a single Supreme Novices’ Hurdle selection at whatever odds you choose, win or each-way. No minimum odds restriction on the free bet means you can use it on the favourite if you choose. Boylesports are an Irish bookmaker with a long history of strong Cheltenham markets, and they also offer BOG from 8am.
The offer: Bet £10 on any sports market at odds of 1/2 or greater. Receive £40 as a single free bet token. 30-day expiry.
18+. New UK customers only. Min £10 first bet at odds of 1/2+. £40 free bet credited. T&Cs apply.
William Hill — Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets (4 x £10)
Why it works for the Supreme: Four £10 tokens align perfectly with the four days of the Festival — use one per day. Your first token is ready for the Supreme on Tuesday. Minimum qualifying odds of 1/2 on the free bet means most Supreme runners at current market prices qualify, including the second and third favourites. William Hill offer 9am BOG (one hour later than bet365/Betfred) and live streaming of all 28 races.
On race day: William Hill run Epic Price Boosts each morning — check the promotions tab by 10am. They also run a Daily Racing Winnings Boost (one cash top-up per day on a horse racing single, up to £20).
The offer: Bet £10 on any sports market at odds of 1/2 or greater. Receive 4 x £10 free bets. 30-day expiry.
→ Claim the William Hill offer
18+. New customers only. Place qualifying bet and receive 4 x £10 free bets. T&Cs apply.
Ladbrokes — Bet £5 Get £30 in Free Bets (6 x £5)
Why it works for the Supreme: The lowest qualifying bet in this guide at £5, making it the most accessible entry point. Six £5 tokens give you coverage across multiple races rather than concentrating value — use one on the Supreme, retain five for the rest of the week. BOG from 8am. Ladbrokes also offer the unique feature of Tote pool betting from the same account, which can produce better prices on competitive open handicaps later in the week.
The offer: Bet £5 on horse racing at odds of 1/2 or greater. Receive 6 x £5 free bets. 7-day expiry.
18+. New UK+ROI customers only. Min first £5 bet at min odds 1/2. Get 6 x £5 free bets. Restrictions + T&Cs apply.
Coral — Bet £5 Get £30 in Free Bets (6 x £5) + Beaten by a Neck
Why it works for the Supreme: Same structure as Ladbrokes. But Coral’s most valuable ongoing feature for the Supreme specifically is their Beaten by a Neck promotion — if your Supreme selection finishes second beaten by a neck or less, Coral refunds your stake up to £10 in cash. The Supreme is a genuinely run championship race over two miles where short-head and neck finishes are common. That cash refund on a neck defeat is real cover.
BOG from 8am.
The offer: Bet £5 on sports at odds of 1/2 or greater. Receive 6 x £5 free bets. 7-day expiry.
18+. New customers only. Min first £5 bet. T&Cs apply.
BetVictor — Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets (3 x £10)
Why it works for the Supreme: Three £10 tokens is a clean split: use one on the Supreme, one on another Day One race, one for later in the week. BetVictor’s BetFinder tool (powered by Timeform) lets you research the Supreme field in detail — filtering by trainer record at Cheltenham, jockey record, going preference and course form. BOG from 9am. BetVictor also run their Run For Your Money policy: if your Supreme selection refuses to race, unseats or is brought down at the first flight, BetVictor refund your stake in cash.
The offer: Bet £10 on any sports market at min odds 1/2. Receive 3 x £10 free bets. 30-day expiry.
18+. New customers only. T&Cs apply.
SBK — Bet £5 Get £30 in Free Bets
Why it works for the Supreme: SBK’s exchange-style pricing model is designed to deliver better odds than traditional bookmakers on competitive fields. The Supreme typically has a strong favourite with the rest of the field at bigger prices — SBK’s model tends to close the gap between exchange and high-street prices on the bigger-priced runners. No BOG. Best used as a price comparison account rather than your primary Festival account, but if you find SBK’s price is significantly better on your Supreme selection than elsewhere, the free bet is worth deploying there. Promo code TAG30 required.
The offer: Bet £5 at min odds 22/1. Receive £30 in free bets. 7-day expiry.
18+. New customers only. Code TAG30. T&Cs apply.
CopyBet — Bet £20 Get £20 in Free Bets
Why it works for the Supreme: CopyBet activate Best Odds Guaranteed from the moment of final declarations — earlier than any other bookmaker in this guide. If you want to take a price on a Supreme runner in the days before the race with full price protection from that moment, CopyBet is the account to use. Qualifying bet is £20 (higher than most in this guide), so factor that into your budget planning. No live streaming.
Note: CopyBet requires a TrueLayer open banking deposit to qualify. Check the deposit method before registering if this is a concern.
18+. New customers only. Min £20 qualifying bet. T&Cs apply.
BetGoodwin — Bet £10 Get £10 in Free Bets + Unique Racing Concessions
Why it works for the Supreme: The smallest free bet offer in this guide, but BetGoodwin’s ongoing concessions make them worth having as a secondary account. Falls at the Last refunds your stake in cash if your selection is in a winning position and falls, unseats or is brought down at the final flight. In a Supreme with a big-field novice hurdle and horses carrying Festival inexperience, a faller at the last while leading is not an impossible scenario. First Past the Post pays you the win price if your horse crosses the line first but is subsequently disqualified. Cash refunds, not free bets.
18+. New customers only. T&Cs apply.
BestOdds — Bet £20 Get £25 in Free Bets (5 x £5)
Why it works for the Supreme: BestOdds release free bet tokens daily across the Festival — one token per day rather than the full amount upfront. Important: each token expires within 24 hours of being credited, so if your Tuesday token is not used on Day One, it is gone. For the Supreme specifically, this forces discipline — you must use Tuesday’s token on a Day One race, and the Supreme is the natural first target. Note the qualifying bet is £20 (higher than most in this guide) at minimum odds of Evens. Live streaming available. Visa debit deposits only. Promo code BOP20X5FB required at registration.
18+. New UK customers only. Min £20 qualifying bet at Evens (2.00)+. 5 x £5 free bets released one per day. Each expires 24 hours after being credited. Visa deposits only. T&Cs apply.
Midnite — Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets (5 tokens)
Why it works for the Supreme: One £10 single free bet token is freely usable on horse racing, including the Supreme, at any odds. The remaining tokens (3 x £5 Bet Builder, 1 x £5 Acca) are structured for football markets and are harder to deploy on horse racing — be clear on this before claiming. The £10 single token is the one to target for the Supreme. No BOG, no live streaming, no NRNB. Best app interface of any bookmaker in this guide, and daily price boosts including racing markets.
18+. New customers only. Code BETGET30. T&Cs apply.
Best Odds Guaranteed: Which Bookmakers Cover the Supreme?
BOG is the single most important structural feature for Cheltenham betting. If you take a price on Old Park Star at 7/2 in the morning and the SP goes off at 4/1, BOG pays you 4/1 on your stake. Given that Supreme Novices’ Hurdle betting patterns regularly see market movements on the morning of the race as final declarations come in and the going picture is confirmed, BOG from the earliest possible time is a meaningful advantage.
| Bookmaker | BOG Start Time | Covers Supreme? |
|---|---|---|
| bet365 | 8am | Yes — all 28 Cheltenham races |
| Betfred | 8am | Yes — all UK and Irish racing |
| Boylesports | 8am | Yes — all UK and Irish racing |
| Ladbrokes | 8am | Yes — all UK and Irish racing |
| Coral | 8am | Yes — all UK and Irish racing |
| CopyBet | From declarations | Yes — earliest BOG available |
| BetVictor | 9am | Yes — all UK and Irish racing |
| William Hill | 9am | Yes — all UK and Irish racing |
| BetGoodwin | 10am | Yes — all UK and Irish racing |
| SBK | No BOG | — |
| Midnite | No BOG | — |
For a full guide to Best Odds Guaranteed across all racing, see our BOG hub page.
The 2026 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle: What You Need to Know Before You Bet
The Race in 2026
The 2026 renewal is shaping up as one of the more open Supreme Novice Hurdles in recent years. Willie Mullins — who has won the race eight times, including last year’s renewal with Kopek Des Bordes — does not appear to have a standout primary contender this term. That creates an opportunity for British-trained runners that rarely presents itself.
Old Park Star (Nicky Henderson / Nico de Boinville) is the current ante-post favourite and has earned that status. An 18-length winner of the Rossington Main at Haydock in January, he earned a Timeform rating of 153p — placing him 5lb clear of the next-rated novice hurdler in Britain and Ireland. Henderson has trained five Supreme winners, including Constitution Hill (2022), Shishkin (2020) and Altior (2016). Old Park Star has already won on the Cheltenham track, is a polished jumper, and carries the profile of a textbook Supreme favourite: unbeaten, course-proven, trainer with the best record in the race.
Talk The Talk (Joseph O’Brien / JJ Slevin) is the leading Irish contender. Winner of the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival, he has graded-level form and the travelling speed that the Supreme demands. He was a faller at the last when leading a race earlier in the season — worth noting for BetGoodwin’s Falls at the Last concession.
El Cairos (Gordon Elliott) is a fascinating runner. Fifth in last season’s Champion Bumper, he was in a winning position in his novice hurdle debut over timber when an unusual unseat at the final flight cost him. The form before the incident was outstanding and punters have largely dismissed the fall as a fluke. He is quick, athletic and battles with temperament rather than talent.
Mydaddypaddy (Dan Skelton / Harry Skelton) offers each-way value. His Rossington Main time was almost identical to Old Park Star’s despite running in a smaller field, and the Skelton team hold him in high regard. Beaten in the Grade 1 Formby at Aintree in January, but the race was run with no pace at all — not a true test of his ability.
Key trends to note: In the last 12 renewals, 11 winners were in the top three in the ante-post betting. Last-time-out winners dominate — only three of the last 20 winners had not won their most recent start. Horses aged five or six have won 11 of the last 12 renewals.
How to Use Your Free Bet on the Supreme
Win or each-way? The Supreme is typically run at a strong gallop with a genuine favourite. Each-way betting is only worthwhile if you are backing a runner at long odds — at standard terms (three places, 1/4 odds) a 6/1 shot returning place odds of 3/2 is thin value. If you are backing a fancied runner at 4/1 or shorter, win only makes more mathematical sense. If you are using your free bet on a 10/1+ selection, each-way has genuine appeal.
Free bet or own money on the favourite? This is a common decision. On a short-priced favourite, your free bet stake is not returned even if it wins — so the net value of a free bet is only the winnings. If Old Park Star goes off at 2/1 and you use a £10 free bet, you collect £20. If you use your own £10 and it wins, you collect £30 (including stake). For this reason, free bets are more efficiently deployed on bigger-priced selections — you are risking nothing on the stake, so the larger the winnings from a non-returned stake, the better the free bet performs.
BOG and the morning price: If you hold a BOG account (bet365, Betfred, Boylesports from 8am), take your price as early on race morning as possible. The Supreme favourite’s price tends to contract towards the off as money comes in. By taking your price at 8am and holding BOG, you capture any positive drift in the favourite’s price without sacrificing the position if the market shortens.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 2026?
The race starts at 1:20pm on Tuesday 10 March 2026, the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.
Is the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on ITV?
Yes. All seven races on Day One are broadcast live on ITV1, with the Supreme as the opening race. It is also available to stream via most major bookmaker apps — bet365, William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral and Betfred all stream the race free to account holders.
Can I use a sign-up free bet on the Supreme Novices Hurdle?
Yes. All the sign-up offers listed on this page can be used on the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. The key requirement is that your qualifying bet needs to have been placed and settled before 1:20pm on Tuesday. Sign up and place your qualifying bet in the days before the Festival, and your free bet tokens will be available to deploy on race day.
Which bookmaker has the best offer for the Supreme Novices Hurdle?
bet365 (Best Odds Guaranteed from 8am, live streaming, 1/5 minimum odds on free bet, flexible credits) and Boylesports (single £40 token, no minimum odds on free bet, 8am BOG) offer the best combination of flexibility and race-day features specifically for the Supreme. For the highest total value, Betfred’s £50 offer leads the market.
What is the Cheltenham Roar?
The Cheltenham Roar is the noise made by the crowd at Cheltenham as the tape goes up for the first race of the Festival — the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. It has become one of the defining sounds of the racing calendar and marks the official start of four days of championship racing. You will hear it on the ITV broadcast from around 1:19pm.
Do I need NRNB for the Supreme?
Non-Runner No Bet is less critical for the Supreme than for earlier ante-post markets, because the field for a championship Grade 1 is smaller and more stable than open handicaps. That said, if you are placing your bet before final declarations (48 hours before the race), NRNB provides sensible cover. bet365 offers NRNB on all 28 Cheltenham races from early February. See our full NRNB guide for details.
Who won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2025?
Kopek Des Bordes, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, won the 2025 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at odds of 4/6. It was Mullins’ eighth win in the race.
Related Pages
Cheltenham Festival Free Bets 2026 — All sign-up offers for all 28 races reviewed and compared
Cheltenham Existing Customer Offers 2026 — Daily promotions for registered account holders
Cheltenham Tips 2026 — Day-by-day tips and race previews
Best Odds Guaranteed Guide — Full BOG comparison across all bookmakers
18+. Terms and conditions apply to all offers listed. Please bet responsibly. BeGambleAware.org.