The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, run over 2 miles and 87 yards on the Old Course at Prestbury Park, is the opening event at the Cheltenham Festival. As the name suggests, the race features horses which, at the start of the current season, had yet to win a race over hurdles. Consequently, the field is invariably chock-a-block with exciting, untapped potential, just waiting to be revealed. We’ve had a look the winners over the last decade to see how they progressed, or otherwise, in their subsequent careers.
Go Native (2009)
A rare Cheltenham Festival success for Co. Meath trainer Noel Meade, but subsequently won the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Kempton and the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton before finishing a well-beaten tenth of twelve, when favourite, in the Champion Hurdle in 2010.
Menorah (2010)
A narrow, and controversial, winner for Philip Hobbs, beating Get Me Out Of Here by a head after hampering the runner-up at the second-last flight. Finished a respectable fifth of nine behind Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle the following season before being sent chasing; in that sphere, he won nine of his 29 starts, but just one at Grade One level.
Al Ferof (2011)
Had the distinction of beating Sprinter Sacre and Cue Card to give Paul Nicholls his second winner of the race after Noland in 2006. Sent chasing the following season and ultimately won six of his 18 starts over fences, including a narrow victory, at long odds-on, in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown.
Cinders And Ashes (2012)
Stayed on strongly to beat Darlan by 1¼ lengths to give Donald McCain his first and, so far, only winner of the race, but that was the pinnacle of his career. He was pulled up before three out in the Champion Hurdle, won by Hurricane Fly, the following season and never won again.
Champagne Fever (2013)
A third winner for Willie Mullins, after Tourist Attraction in 1995 and Ebaziyan in 2007
Mullins, having won the Champion Bumper the previous year. Beaten a head by Western Warhorse in the Arkle Challenge Trophy on his Festival hat-trick attempt the following year and a creditable fourth behind Silviniaco Conti in the King George VI Chase at Kempton, but managed to win four of his 11 starts over fences.
Vautour (2014)
Another winner for Mullins and a prolific winner thereafter, with impressive victories in the JLT Novices’ Chase and the Ryanair Chase at two subsequent Festivals among his five wins from nine starts over fences. Put down, as a seven-year-old, after a freak accident at home.
Douvan (2015)
A third consecutive winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle for Willie Mullins and a fifth in all, making him the most successful trainer in the modern history of the race. Unbeaten in both previous starts for Mullins, Douvan also won his next ten starts over hurdles and fences, including the Arkle Challenge Trophy in 2016, before his shock defeat, at odds of 2/9, when going lame in the Queen Mother Champion Chase the following year.
Altior (2016)
A third winner for Nicky Henderson, after River Ceiroig in 1986 and Flown in 1992, and far and away the best of the trio. Has a perfect 17-17 record over hurdles for the Master of Seven Barrows, including the Arkle Challenge Trophy and the Queen Mother Champion Chase at two subsequent Festivals.
Labaik (2017)
A first winner for Gordon Elliott and a clearly talented, but quirky, sort. Virtually refused race on his next start at Punchestown and hasn’t been seen in public since finishing a never-nearer fourth behind Wicklow Brave at the same course in April, 2017, when he suffered a serious leg injury
Summerville Boy (2018)
A first winner of the race for Tom George, but subsequently found to be suffering from a hairline fracture of his off-hind femur. Nevertheless, following disappointing efforts in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle and the International Hurdle at Cheltenham – before the injury came to light – he was reported to be recovering well, although he inevitably faces a spell on the sidelines.
