What can we learn from the most recent editions of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle? We’ll take a look at some key trends that connect the recent winners.
As the opening race of the Cheltenham Festival, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle always draws a huge crowd. The race, which is aimed at novice hurdlers over the age of four, has kicked off successful Cheltenham careers for some of the biggest names in the Festival’s history.
With that in mind, what can we learn from the most recent winners of the race? We’ll take a look at some key trends that connect the recent winners, so you know what to look out for next time you decide to bet on the event. Here are some of the most important Supreme Novices’ Hurdle trends you need to know about:
Key Supreme Novices’ Hurdle trends to be aware of
When choosing which horse to place your bet on, there are many factors to take into account. To help you make your choice, try to keep these trends in mind:
Older horses rarely win: Since the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle was founded in 1946, only four horses over the age of seven have ever won the race. This is because the event is designed for horses that have never won a hurdle race in an earlier season – so mostly younger competitors.
Veteran trainers reign supreme: With a couple of exceptions, many of the 10 most recent winners of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle were raised by trainers with extensive experience. If you’re looking to back a horse, consider its trainer’s history to understand whether it’s likely to succeed.
Pay attention to previous races: Before you place your bet, make sure to research the recent race record of your chosen horse, as this can help influence your decision. If a horse is on a winning streak, then it’s more likely to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle than a horse that has recently lost a major race.
Does the favourite usually win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle?
Since novice races are designed to showcase less experienced horses, they can often end with surprising results if a lesser-known horse ends up making a stand-out performance. In fact, over the last 20 editions of the race, only a quarter have ended with the favourite in first place.
The five horses have who have won the race as the favourite in the last two decades are Vautour (2014, with odds of 7/2), Douvan (2015, 2/1), Appreciate it (2021, 8/11), Constitution Hil (2022, 9/4), and Kopek des Bordes (2025, 4/6). That said, the favourites have been more likely to win in recent years, with three of the last five winners starting the race with the shortest odds.
What has been the biggest upset in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle?
The biggest Supreme Novices’ Hurdle upset of the last 20 years occurred in 2007, when Ebaziyan won with starting odds at just 40/1. The favourite in that race, Amaretto Rose (2/1), finished third.
What is the average age of a Supreme Novices’ Hurdle-winning horse?
The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is open to horses over the age of four, but the mean age of the last 10 winners is 5.8 years, suggesting that some experience is helpful to find success.
The last time a four-year-old horse won the race was in 1999, when Tony McCoy rode Hors La Loi III to victory. Meanwhile, at seven years old, Appreciate It was the oldest winner of the last 10 years in 2021 – before him, the last seven-year-old to win the race was Captain Cee Bee in 2008.
How many Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winners won last time out?
Winning streaks are an important consideration in horse racing, as they can heavily influence the odds of a race. The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is no exception, with eight of the last 10 winners having won their previous race. The only exceptions are Slade Steel, who placed second before winning in 2024, and Labaik, who finished sixth before his shock victory.
When did Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winners last compete?
On average, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winners of the last 10 years had a 51.4-day break from competing before the event. The median winner, however, spends 37 days resting between events. This is often because Leopardstown Racecourse hosts its own Novice Hurdle around five weeks before Cheltenham.
The shortest gap in competition for a winner in the past decade was Labaik, who won in 2017 just 16 days after his previous race. On the other hand, Marine Nationale was the winner with the largest gap between races in the last 10 years, spending more than three months (98 days) away from the track before winning at Cheltenham.
Are Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winners usually British or Irish-trained?
Looking back at the recent winners of the Novices’ Hurdle race, Irish-trained horses are more likely to win than British-trained horses, but the gap between the two is very narrow. Among the last 10 winners, six were trained in Ireland, compared to four trained in Britain. If we look back even further, over the last two decades of races, Irish-trained horses lead British-trained horses 12-8, showing that the two countries are closely matched.
Which trainer has had the most success in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle?
The most successful trainer in Supreme Novices’ Hurdle history is Willie Mullins, who has trained eight winners since the race’s format was changed in 1972. His first winner, Tourist Attraction, placed first in 1995, but Mullins’ longest winning streak unfolded from 2013 to 2015 with three consecutive winners (Champagne Fever, Vautour, and Altior).
Why is it important to consider Supreme Novices’ Hurdle trends?
While there’s no guaranteed way to know which horse is going to win a race, understanding the trends of a race’s past winners can help educate you when choosing which horse to back. For example, if you’re confident a younger horse is more likely to win, you can look to place your stake on a newcomer rather than a veteran.
If you’re looking to learn more about the different competitors and races at the Cheltenham Festival, head to our Cheltenham blog for the latest guides, tips, and picks.
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle recent winners
The most recent winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle was Kopek des Bordes, an Irish-trained five-year-old novice hurdler ridden by Betway ambassador Paul Townend, who was victorious in the 2025 edition of the race. Other previous winners include Slade Steel (2024), Marine Nationale (2023), Constitution Hill (2022, and Appreciate It (2021).
