This race will take place on day one of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday 11th March
Kopek Des Bordes looks set to reward favourite backers
Expired
Runners make their way around the course during the The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival 2024. (Getty)
The Cheltenham Festival begins with the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. The roar that erupts from the stands when the starter gets the Supreme underway can be heard for miles around and the atmosphere could be even more electric this year, as many punter's banker of the meeting is being aimed at our opening contest.
Here's our free guide to the 2025 Supreme Novices' Hurdle, featuring the latest odds, expert analysis and our best betting tips.
*Note - Best bets won't be finalised until the field has been confirmed*
2025 Supreme Novices' Hurdle Odds
Name
Odds
Kopek Des Bordes
10/11
Romeo Coolio
6/1
Salvator Mundi
7/1
Workahead
9/1
The New Lion
12/1
Bar
16/1
2025 Supreme Novices' Hurdle Tips - The Firm Favourite
Unbeaten in three starts under rules, Kopek Des Bordes will likely carry an odds-on price into this year's Supreme. Willie Mullins' star looked impressive when winning his bumper at Fairyhouse in March, and managed to record a victory over highly-touted stablemate Kawaboomga on his hurdling debut over Christmas, despite a shocking round of jumping.
A much-improved display at the Dublin Racing Festival resulted in a wide-margin success in the Grade One Top Novices' Hurdle. I had backed Kopek Des Bordes for the Turners in the build-up to the DRF, but following that 13-length success, Willie Mullins stated that the Supreme was his goal and Paul Townend's mount has been hammered in the betting ever since.
2025 Supreme Novices' Hurdle Tips - The Chasing Pack
Champion Bumper runner-up, Romeo Coolio made the ideal start to life over hurdles when crusing to victory at Down Royal in November. Gordon Elliott's star was then undone in a tactical renewal of the Royal Bond, but bounced back to winning form with an impressive front-running Grade One success at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival, after which Elliott laid Romeo Coolio out for the Cheltenham Festival.
Salvator Mundi had topped the Supreme betting before Kopek Des Bordes success at Leopardstown. Willie Mullins' star bolted up at Tipperary in May and was last seen scoring in the Moscow Flyer at Punchestown in January. Unlike Romeo Coolio, Salvator Mundi is an awkward conveyance. Mullins' five-year-old is very keen, despite wearing both a hood and tongue tie. There's clearly plenty of talent under the bonnet, but the atmosphere ahead of the Supreme might get the better of him.
Another who hasn't been seen since a victory over Christmas is Workahead. Third behind Champion Bumper winner Jasmin De Vaux on his hurdling debut, Henry De Bromhead's star handed William Munny a sound thrashing to claim victory in his maiden hurdle. This seven-year-old has had his injury problems and looks set for a bright future over fences. Very few horses have ever won the Supreme without dipping their toes in Graded company before hand, so that inexperience has to count against him.
2025 Supreme Novices' Hurdle Tips - Best Of The Rest
37 horses are still entered in the Supreme, but I expect the strength of Kopek Des Bordes will scare plenty off. I'd be quite surprised if we had more than 10 runners in the final field, and Britain may not be represented at all.
The New Lion and Kawaboomga will head to the Turners Novices' Hurdle on day two. Kappa Jy Pyke and Kel Histoire are also likely to take in that longer contest, and Karbau wasn't mentioned in Willie Mullins' Cheltenham Festival stable tour.
Kiss Will and Funiculi Funicula were earmarked as potential Supreme runners, but both have only won modest maiden hurdles from the front this season. They could be on pace-making duties.
William Munny built on runner-up finishes behind Workahead and Kawaboomga by powering to victory in Listed company earlier this month. He's a classy hurdler who cannot be ruled out. Good And Clever has finished third in two Grade Ones this season, but it's unlikely he'll be able to repeat that feat here, given the quality of the opposition.
Paul Townend riding Kopek Des Bordes clear the last to win The Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown. (Getty)
2025 Supreme Novices' Hurdle Tips
An unoriginal and unsurprising selection, but I can't see past KOPEK DES BORDES (10/11). Willie Mullins' star improved massively between his first and second runs over hurdles, and put in a truly monstrous performance when claiming Grade One glory at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Kopek Des Bordes is nowhere near as quirky as Salvator Mundi, but did get a little upset in the parade ring at Leopardstown. The atmosphere will be even more feverish ahead of the Cheltenham Festival opener, so that does pose a slight worry for Willie Mullins. Yet, Paul Townend will almost certainly be in the favourite's saddle, and his mere presence could be enough to settle any pre-match nerves.
There isn't really much in the way of opposition. Romeo Coolio is the only other Grade One winner who will feature in the field. Gordon Elliott's star was impressive over Christmas, but I'm still dismayed as to how he allowed a handicapper in Tounsivator to beat him in the Royal Bond and there's little each-way value left in his current price.
Verdict
If Romeo Coolio was to drift before the off, like he did before last year's Champion Bumper, then I'd certainly be backing him each way. Yet, Kopek Des Bordes remains the outstanding candidate in this year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle and I'd be shocked if the favourite didn't help punters make a winning start to the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
Best Bet1: Kopek Des Bordes 2025 Supreme Tips @10/11 at BoyleSports - 10 Units
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