Analysing the favourites for the 2024 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is the perfect curtain raiser to the Cheltenham Festival, with the famous roar echoing around Prestbury Park as the best young hurdlers set off for the exhilarating two-mile trip ahead of them.

The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle’s roll of honour is hugely impressive, with the likes of Constitution Hill, Altior, Douvan, and Vautour all landing the top prize in the last 10 years before going on to build impressive CVs. 

One man who is synonymous with the Grade 1 contest is Willie Mullins. The Irish trainer, who boasts a record 94 winners at the Festival, has secured the top prize an unprecedented seven times in his career and is looking to extend that tally to eight this year. 

Mullins holds a strong hand for the opening race of the week. But will a member of his Closutton contingent win, or will a horse from one of the other top yards swoop in to cause an upset? Read on as we take a look at the Supreme Novices Hurdle 2024 odds. 

Ballyburn – 5/4

Ballyburn boasted a flawless record ahead of the new season, with a Point-to-Point success in 2022 and two Bumper wins last year. 

However, he couldn’t keep his unbeaten résumé in tack following his hurdle debut at Fairyhouse in December — as he was beaten by Firefox in a Maiden Hurdle. 

The Mullins-trained horse quickly learned from his mistakes though, bouncing back at Leopardstown later in the month before winning a Grade 1 back at the Dublin venue in February. 

Question marks remain over whether Ballyburn will compete in the Supreme, or be rerouted for the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle on the second day of the meeting. 

Tullyhill – 4/1

Tullyhill caused a frenzy in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle market recently, as his impressive win at Punchestown in February spurred bettors to back him with their Cheltenham welcome offers. 

The six-year-old, who was second to A Dream To Share in the Grade 1 Punchestown Champion Bumper last April, was turned over on his hurdle debut when a distant second to Shannon Royale. 

But he’s returned to form since, winning a Maiden Hurdle at Naas at the beginning of the year before securing a Listed success by over nine lengths in that aforementioned outing at Punchestown. 

That victory resulted in Tullyhill being slashed from 16/1 to 4/1 in the betting, and he will likely be well-backed. 

Firefox – 6/1

One of the horses with the potential to prove a thorn in the side of Mullins’ Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hopes is the previously mentioned Firefox. 

The Gordon Elliott-trained horse started the season off with a win in a Bumper at Down Royal, extending his record to three wins in four on the flat. 

However, he opened his account over obstacles in December with that two-and-a-half-length victory over Ballyburn at Fairyhouse. 

Firefox couldn’t build on that win when upped in class for the Grade 1 Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle in January though, finishing a disappointing fourth in the seven-horse field. 

Mystical Power – 6/1

Back to Mullins’ runners now, and Mystical Power has an interesting pedigree as a son of Derby winner Galileo and Champion Hurdler Annie Power. 

The five-year-old has been lightly raced thus far in his career, winning his sole Bumper at Ballinrobe in May before marking his switch to obstacles with a win at Galway in July. 

After a 167-day break, Mystical Power stepped up in class for the Grade 2 SkyBet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown in January and landed the spoils comfortably. 

Mystical Power, who is under the joint ownership of esteemed names JP McManus, John Magnier, and Rich Ricci, could prove good value at 6/1.