The Supreme conundrum: will Salvator Mundi win the Cheltenham Festival opener?

'Salvator Mundi is the most likely winner'

What a conundrum. Salvator Mundi's jumping was pretty poor, he was keen and hardly travelled as well as expected – yet he still won. That confirms he is a very talented prospect. The question is: can he raise his game in time to win a Supreme? 

Being extremely good may win a Moscow Flyer, but it does not hold sway at Cheltenham. This is not a new dilemma, as I felt exactly the same about Mystical Power when he won the Punchestown contest 12 months ago. He did not win a Supreme, finishing second to Slade Steel, but jumped far better at Cheltenham and Willie Mullins might just work his magic again. 

Salvator Mundi is the most likely Supreme winner for me, but the value lies elsewhere. His stablemate Kopek Des Bordes also needs to improve his jumping, but he is classy and looks a sound each-way bet at 12-1.
James Stevens, reporter

'Workahead is far more appealing at 25-1'

None of the last nine winners of the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle followed up in the Supreme, and Salvator Mundi is not a Vautour or a Douvan, who did the double in 2014 and 2015.

I would not go near the offers of 4-1. Superstar Constitution Hill is one of only two five-year-olds to have won the Supreme since 2016, and although Salvator Mundi’s trainer Willie Mullins was responsible for the other in Klassical Dream, he did not come down the juvenile route.

Salvator Mundi did not jump fluently but displayed signs of a big engine in the Moscow FlyerCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Last season’s Triumph Hurdle sixth’s stablemate and subsequent four-time Grade 1 winner Il Etait Temps was fifth in the 2022 Triumph before filling the same position in the following year’s Supreme, and I could see similar happening again.

Workahead is far more appealing at 25-1 as he comfortably beat top bumper performers William Munny and Redemption Day last time. Marine Nationale demonstrated you can win the Supreme without a run in the same calendar year, which is the plan last year’s winning trainer Henry de Bromhead has in store.
Charlie Huggins, reporter

'He has plenty of chinks in his armour'

There was a full-court press from Team Mullins after the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle as they sought to quickly dismiss any talk of Salvator Mundi being a poor jumper. Yes, he jumped poorly, they said, but he was a good jumper and would prove so in future races. 

That will need to be the case because he was all over the place with his jumping and cannot do the same at the Cheltenham Festival. On the plus side, he has plenty of talent and came clear of his opponents in the closing stages despite pulling hard for a long way. 

You just feel he has plenty of chinks in his armour.
Peter Scargill, reporter

Supreme Novices' Hurdle latest betting

Sky Bet: 7-2 Salvator Mundi, 8 Romeo Coolio, 12 Kopek Des Bordes, Kaid D’Authie, 14 The New Lion, 20 Jeroboam Machin, Kel Histoire, Workahead 25 bar 

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