The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle has the honour of kicking off the Cheltenham Festival and therefore the prestige of being the first race to be welcomed home by the notorious ‘Cheltenham Roar’.
As the opening race of the festival, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is the chance for jockeys and trainers alike to make the perfect start to proceedings.
Contested over 2m ½f, Cheltenham’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle pits hurdlers aged four years or older against each other in an eight-hurdle, drama-filled race.
Slade Steel took the honours in the 2024 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with Rachael Blackmore on board for Henry de Bromhead, while past winners include the phenomenal Constitution Hill in 2022 and Shishkin in 2020.
This year the race has been renamed in tribute to jockey Michael O'Sullivan, who died in February 10 days after a fall at Thurles.
The Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is where legendary horses begin their ascent to the racing world's pinnacle.
Household names of the racecourse and future Cheltenham champions such as Altior, Constitution Hill and Shishkin began their festival journeys in this very race.
This race was first introduced back in 1946 and it was known as the Gloucestershire Hurdle before becoming the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle we know and love today. In the 1950s, Irish trainer Vincent O’Brien recorded 10 victories, becoming the most successful trainer in the history of the race.
In its modern iteration, Willie Mullins is recognised as the most highly-regarded trainer in this race. He’s overseen seven winners since 1995, with three consecutive winners between 2013 and 2015 (Champagne Fever, Vautour, and Douvan).
The leading jockey in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Ruby Walsh, achieved four of those seven wins for Mullins. The Irishman holds the most victories since 1972 in the opening race of Cheltenham with six wins, all between 2006 and 2019.
Nico de Boinville has proven to be the most successful jockey in recent years in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, riding both Shishkin and Constitution Hill to victory in 2020 and 2022 respectively.
The longest-priced winner in the race’s history was in 2007 when Mullins’ Ebaziyan was a lofty 40/1 to be first past the post.
The Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle is the curtain-raiser for the Cheltenham Festival. The race takes place at 13:20 on Tuesday 11th March 2025 and kick-starts a seven-race-strong card as well as the rest of the festival.
The Arkle Challenge Trophy follows at 14:00 while the Handicap Chase at 14:40 and the Mares’ Hurdle at 15:20 are the prelude to the opening day’s feature race, the Champion Hurdle, at 16:00.
Rounding off the first day is the 16:40 Juvenile Handicap Hurdle and the National Hunt Novices’ Chase at 17:20.
Check out our tips for the Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, as well as other races throughout the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. It’s showtime!
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