Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Odds: Tullyhill the fav in competitive Cheltenham opener

Tuesday’s opener at the Cheltenham Festival is the Grade 1 Supreme Novices' Hurdle (13:30), where twelve runners are due to go to post in what looks like a competitive race, with as many as five horses in single figure odds. 

The current favourite is Tullyhill and we've taken a look at the odds at the Paul Townend ride, as well as the other contenders. 

Betfred will be paying four places instead of three , so let's move on to the Supreme Novices' Hurdle odds. 

This race became a lot more open after the late decision to run Ballyburn in Wednesday's opener instead of the Supreme, giving big chances to several other contenders.

Tullyhill @ 3/1

Willie Mullins is looking for his third Supreme in six years and has half the field here, in an attempt to get his Festival charge off to a flyer. His current best bet is the six-year-old Tullyhill, who is 3/1 at the time of writing and has recently won back-to-back races at Naas and Punchestown, both under soft to heavy conditions.

It seems a distant memory since Tullyhill's 24l defeat at Punchestown in November and he has consistently shortened to become the market fav ahead of stablemate Mystical Power.

Mystical Power @ 7/2

Talking of Mystical Power, this five-year-old son of Galileo and Annie Power enters this with serious credentials and comes into the Supreme unbeaten, having already picked up three victories this season, including the Moscow Flyer Hurdle at Punchestown last time out.

In that race, he looked like a good jumper and a powerful stayer, and jockey Mark Walsh takes the ride, hopeful of being Mullins top performer in the race.

Slade Steel @ 9/2

Next in the betting is Slade Steel, who is trainer Henry de Bromhead's sole entry in the opener. Popular jockey Rachael Blackmore is in the saddle for this six-year-old, who has shortened in the betting from around 7/1 into 9/2 on the back of plenty of interest over the weekend.

Slade Steel chased the aforementioned Ballyburn home at the Dublin Racing Festival and comes into this one with the highest RPR of 154. This could be too short a trip however and he may need to go back to 2m 4f to find future joy.

Firefox @ 5/1

The only horse in the field to beat Ballyburn is the Gordon Elliott-trained Firefox. The six-year-old son of Walk In The Park followed up that impressive victory at Fairyhouse with a disappointing fourth-placed finish in the Lawlor's of Naas, behind the shock winner Readin Tommy Wrong. However, that was over the longer trip of 2m 4f and this race is back to his favoured two mile mark.

That win over Ballyburn gives him a serious chance here in this open field.

Jeriko Du Reponet @ 7/1

If you don't like the chances of any of the opening four, then Nicky Henderson's Jeriko Du Reponet could be to your liking.

This French-bred five-year-old is unbeaten over hurdles and whilst unimpressive at Doncaster, still got the job done under less than ideal good ground. This expected soft Cheltenham ground will be much more to his liking, as will the quicker race pace.

Mistergif @ 12/1

The last of the shorter priced horses comes in the form of another Closutton charge, Mistergif.

After a couple of years of racing on the flat in France, the five-year-old picked up his first win over hurdles at Limerick in January, demolishing an admittedly weak field. Jockey Daryl Jacob has spoken bullishly about his chances here so he is not one to rule out.

Tellherthename @ 20/1

We're starting to move into the outsiders in the field here and first up is Ben Pauling's Tellherthename, who has won twice over four starts.

However, in his last time in Grade One company, he failed to finish in the William Hill Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day and could be out of his depth here.

Asian Master @ 25/1

Another Mullins entry, the seven-year-old has picked up back-to-back wins since joining the famed trainer but both were in poor fields and he also was disqualified from a point-to-point victory in February, after a prohibited substance was found in his blood sample.

Favour And Fortune @ 25/1

A two time winner on both the flat and over hurdles, Alan King's six-year-old finished second in his last two runs, including at Aintree in the same Grade One race Tellherthename pulled up in. He will need a huge step up in class here though.

Gold Dancer @ 66/1

Another €250k Mullins pick-up from France, Gold Dancer won over hurdles in Compiegne last year but was 7th on his Irish debut back in February, in the Tattersalls Novices' Hurdle which was won by Ballyburn.

This one looks a real stretch for a horse with little to no form.

Kings Hill @ 80/1

It's not just Mullins representing Ireland and even though Paul Gilligan's Kings Hill won a maiden hurdle at Thurles back in February, he looks well out of his class here.

Supersundae @ 80/1

The last of Willie's entries is the outsider Supersundae.

He is being thrown in at the deep end on his first run for the stable, having finished runner-up in his previous run in France.

Find more Cheltenham Tips here at Betfred Insights.