2024 Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival: the runners, the odds, the verdict

Are you ready to roar? The Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (1.30) kicks off proceedings on day one of the Cheltenham Festival and a stellar cast of 12 will do battle over 2m½f. Who will draw first blood in the opener? Read on for our runner-by-runner guide . . .

• 1.30 Cheltenham (Tuesday, March 12): Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle

1 Asian Master

2-2 for new stable; promising sort but his amateur rider cannot utilise 7lb claim

Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Mr T Costello
SP forecast: 20-1

Asian Master13:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Mr T Costello Tnr: W P Mullins

2 Favour And Fortune

Consistent but has something to find and needs to jump more proficiently than last time

Trainer: Alan King
Jockey: Tom Cannon
SP forecast: 25-1

Favour And Fortune13:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Tom Cannon Tnr: Alan King

3 Firefox

Could well resume his good progress back down in distance; remains of strong interest

Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Jack Kennedy
SP forecast: 5-1

Firefox13:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Jack Kennedy Tnr: Gordon Elliott

4 Gold Dancer

Won over hurdles in France; well behind Slade Steel in Grade 1 on debut for new yard

Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Danny Mullins
SP forecast: 40-1

Gold Dancer13:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Danny Mullins Tnr: W P Mullins

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5 Jeriko Du Reponet

Unbeaten; form of latest win has been franked; the pick of the British contenders

Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Jockey: Nico de Boinville
SP forecast: 13-2

6 Kings Hill

Justified favouritism at Thurles four weeks ago but that form is nothing special

Trainer: Paul John Gilligan
Jockey: Jack Gilligan
SP forecast: 100-1

Kings Hill13:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Jack G Gilligan Tnr: Paul John Gilligan

7 Mistergif

Recorded a wide-margin win at Limerick on debut for Willie Mullins; interesting prospect

Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Daryl Jacob
SP forecast: 10-1

Mistergif13:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Daryl Jacob Tnr: W P Mullins

8 Mystical Power

Out of Annie Power; has duly made a big splash and looks a Grade 1 winner in waiting

Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Mark Walsh
SP forecast: 7-2

Mystical Power13:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Mark Walsh Tnr: W P Mullins

9 Slade Steel

May ideally need a return to 2m4f but he's progressive and a big player on form

Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
Jockey: Rachael Blackmore
SP forecast: 9-2

Slade Steel13:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Rachael Blackmore Tnr: Henry De Bromhead

10 Supersundae

Ex-French five-year-old who has loads to find on bare figures; debut for Willie Mullins

Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Mr P W Mullins
SP forecast: 100-1

Supersundae13:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Mr P W Mullins Tnr: W P Mullins

11 Tellherthename

Gained his Huntingdon wins from the front; may find it harder to dominate in this field

Trainer: Ben Pauling
Jockey: Kielan Woods
SP forecast: 20-1

Tellherthename13:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Kielan Woods Tnr: Ben Pauling

12 Tullyhill

Impressive all-the-way wins the last twice, latest in Listed event; leading contender

Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Paul Townend
SP forecast: 11-4

Tullyhill13:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Paul Townend Tnr: W P Mullins

The verdict

Being superbly bred and open to any amount of further progress, MYSTICAL POWER has very strong claims. Tullyhill is second choice.

Mystical Power13:30 Cheltenham

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Jky: Mark Walsh Tnr: W P Mullins

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Read these next:

'I think he's got a stone in hand' - our Ultimate Cheltenham Preview panellists give their festival bankers 

'I could see him being a big, big player' - our Ultimate Cheltenham Preview panellists with their dark horses 

Confirmed runners and riders for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Champion Hurdle and Tuesday's other Cheltenham Festival races 

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