Supreme Novices Hurdle
Supreme Novices Hurdle
The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is the championship race for two-mile novice hurdlers and the traditional curtain-raiser to the Cheltenham Festival.
It is greeted by the famous Cheltenham roar as the tapes rise, signalling the end of a 12-month wait for the highlight of the jumps season. While field sizes have dipped in recent years, the race is still usually run at a strong gallop, favouring horses with a high cruising speed.
In 2025, the race was renamed the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in honour of the former winner, who tragically died aged 24 following a fall at Thurles.
The Supreme has long been a launchpad for future stars. Brave Inca and Constitution Hill went on to win the Champion Hurdle, while Binocular and Buveur d’Air both placed in the race before later claiming that prize.
It has also produced future Cheltenham Gold Cup winners, with Best Mate, Kicking King and War Of Attrition all finishing runner-up, while Sizing John was third in 2015 before lifting the Gold Cup two years later.
Tuesday 13.20 | 4yo+ novices | Grade 1
2 miles ½ furlong | 8 hurdles | Old Course
Weight: 10st 11lb (4yo) / 11st 7lb (5yo+) | Allowance: 7lb for fillies & mares
2025 Prize money: £150,000
PREVIOUS WINNERS
| YEAR | WINNER | SP |
| 2025 | Kopek Des Bordes | 4/6f |
| 2024 | Slade Steel | 7/2 |
| 2023 | Marine Nationale | 9/2 |
| 2022 | Constitution Hill | 9/4jf |
| 2021 | Appreciate It | 8/11f |
| 2020 | Shishkin | 6/1 |
| 2019 | Klassical Dream | 6/1 |
| 2018 | Summerville Boy | 9/1 |
| 2017 | Labaik | 25/1 |
| 2016 | Altior | 4/1 |
| 2015 | Douvan | 2/1f |
| 2014 | Vautour | 7/2jf |
| 2013 | Champagne Fever | 5/1 |
| 2012 | Cinders and Ashes | 10/1 |
| 2011 | Al Ferof | 10/1 |
| 2010 | Menorah | 12/1 |
| 2009 | Go Native | 12/1 |
| 2008 | Captain Cee Bee | 17/2 |
| 2007 | Ebaziyan | 40/1 |
| 2006 | Noland | 6/1 |
| 2005 | Arcalis | 20/1 |
| 2004 | Brave Inca | 7/2f |
| 2003 | Back In Front | 3/1f |
| 2002 | Like-A-Butterly | 7/4f |
| 2001 | Festival Cancelled | N/A |
| 2000 | Sausalito Bay | 14/1 |
