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Cheltenham Festival: Supreme Novices' Hurdle Betting Tips

The Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle is the opening race of the Cheltenham Festival. Although there's a clear market leader, the race could turn out to be much more competitive than the market would suggest.

Kopek Des Bordes was stunning at the Dublin Racing Festival but he is a very keen sort and Cheltenham has spooked many of his kind in the past, so he has a big job to get down to the start without getting too worked up.

He will also sport a first-time hood and Willie Mullins has had many a big favourite flop in this contest.

A field of 12 will go to post for Tuesday's 13:20 race – here are three to keep in mind, including one at big odds.

NAP: Workahead @ 13/2

Workahead is the form pick, it's as simple as that.

Third behind Jasmin De Vaux and The Enabler on his debut at Navan, he improved massively on that when last seen landing a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day.

The form of that race has worked out unbelievably well. William Munny (second) was seven lengths behind him on the day but has since won a Listed hurdle at Punchestown by 15 lengths and has been well-backed for this race all week.

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Springt De La Mare (third) has since won twice over fences. Redemption Day (fourth) won a Naas maiden hurdle on Sunday, while Jacob's Ladder (fifth) has won twice since, including a Grade 3 contest at Naas.

Workahead jumped off in front on the day and he travelled beautifully. He had William Munny under pressure a long way from home and with further improvement expected, Henry de Bromhead's gelding looks cracking value.

NB: William Munny @ 8/1

He was beaten fair and square by Workahead when they last met but William Munny should have this race run to suit and Barry Connell's runner could hit the frame in the hands of Sean Flanagan.

The dual bumper winner was third in the Punchestown festival bumper and it has taken him a while to get the hang of things over hurdles.

However, he arrives here off the back of a career-best 15-length thrashing of his rivals at Punchestown.

There will be plenty of pace on here and although he is a keen-going type himself, the hood is expected to help him to settle and he should be finishing off his race well.

Long shot: Tripoli Flyer @ 20/1

Britain's best chance of a winner in the race is probably Fergal O'Brien's Tripoli Flyer and he's not to be discounted.

He has won his last three hurdle contests by a combined 48 lengths, including when easily landing a Grade 2 at Kempton in February.

Tripoli Flyer is clearly on an upward trajectory – if he was trained by a high-profile trainer like Nicky Henderson he would probably be much shorter in the betting.

He does have a tendency to jump to his right but, if he can sort that out, he's a player.

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation

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