2023 Supreme Novices' Hurdle Tips: Rounding up the tips for the Cheltenham opener

The race that elicits the loudest roar from the Cheltenham crowd every year is undoubtedly the first, the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Here, we have picked out some of the trends and statistics that could point you in the direction of the winner, while also picking out the popular naps from a host of racing tipsters as well as providing our pick for the race...

The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is the traditional curtain raiser on Cheltenham Day 1 known as Champion Tuesday. The race, a Grade 1 contest over two miles and 87 yards, has been won by some legendary names over the years, including Flyingbolt, L’Escargot, Sprinter Sacre and Altior.  

Nicky Henderson's Constitution Hill was a sensational winner of the 2022 Supreme Novices' Hurdle, as the Seven Barrows inmate rocketed 22 lengths clear of the second-placed Jonbon, with Kilcruit finishing third. That may just go down as the best Supreme performance of all time, so we can't expect more of the same just a year later, but there are certainly a few in here capable of producing a wow of a performance. Facile Vega has been strong in the market in the lead up to the race, but was odds-on across the boards after winning last season's Champion Bumper so impressively before sauntering to a debut hurdling success.

He looked the next star of racing until bombing out at the Dublin Racing Festival, but connections are keeping the faith and Willie Mullins' army of punting supporters have seen him slot back in as a warm favourite. His conqueror at Leopardstown was stablemate Il Etait Temps, who is third favourite and has every chance of at least hitting the frame. The Mullins duo will be most concerned by fellow Irish raider, the unbeaten Marine Nationale, while Tahmuras may be the best of British for Paul Nicholls.

Supreme Novices' Hurdle Key Trends

• Willie Mullins has trained five of the last 10 winners
• Four favourites or joint-favourites have won the last 10 renewals of the Supreme
• Horses aged six (5 wins) and five (4 wins) have dominated the Supreme in the last 10 years
• Nine of the last 10 winners had won their previous race before the Supreme

Somewhat surprisingly, neither Facile Vega or Marine Nationale are the most tipped runners in the Cheltenham Festival curtain raiser. That honour is bestowed upon IL ETAIT TEMPS, the presumed Mullins second string but a fine prospect in his own right and plenty seem to believe there was no fluke about his win in a Grade One at the Dublin Racing Festival. One of the biggest names in racing tipping, Templegate of The Sun, is siding with Il Etait Temps as his Nap of the day, along with two other pundits involved in the Naps competition. In total Il Etait Temps has been tipped for the Supreme by eight tipsters, making him by far the most popular selection.

A few years ago Olly Murphy trained the second and third of the Supreme at big priced with Itchy Feet and Thomas Darby, and this season he has another couple of interesting contenders. Chasing Fire is his most fancied runner in the market but it is 40/1 poke STRONG LEADER who is the biggest priced Supreme tip to kick Cheltenham off.

Rob Wright of The Times likes the look of Murphy's runner to cause a surprise in the opener and the horse is 3/3 from hurdles so far, although this is a marked step up. He could have each-way claims, especially with plenty of firms paying an extra place.

With so much uncertainty surrounding the hotpot favourite Facile Vega, we think it is worth looking beyond Willie Mullins' regally bred favourite for some each-way value in a race in which bookmakers are offering concessions such as money back all losers and extra places.

The horse we like to upset the applecart was in fact at one time an Epsom Derby antepost favourite and that is HIGH DEFINITION for Joseph O'Brien. Previously with father Aidan on the flat, Joseph secured this recruit for the upcoming 2022/23 season and despite reporting he would come on for the run and had hardly jumped a hurdle, High Definition was devilishly impressive on hurdling debut.

He has an immense cruising speed and a good finishing kick which could come in handy here, and if O'Brien has schooled him as thoroughly as one would expect from such an expert handler his jumping should be markedly improved. He will be prominent, a tactic that has served past Supreme winners well, and if it becomes a sprint finish there won't be many in this field who can live with High Definition's pace. It is a gamble to back one so inconsistent but at the prices he is worth supporting due to his clear talent. If he puts everything together here, he will be bang there come the finish.

The Best Betting Sites to bet on the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

bet365 - The Pros and Cons of bet365 for Betting on the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Bet365 bookmakers are offering new customers a sign-up deal of Bet £10 & Get £30 In Free Bets, which can be used when betting on the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

What we like:

• bet365 are offering FOUR places in the each-way betting for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle
• bet365 offer Best Odds Guaranteed once the final declarations are in for the Cheltenham Festival races including the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

What we don't:

• bet365 can restrict winning punters

Paddy Power - The Pros and Cons of Paddy Power for Betting on the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Paddy Power are offering new customers the sign-up offer of Bet £10 & Get £50 In Free Bets, which can be used on the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

What we like:

• Paddy Power are offering a free bet for day one of the Cheltenham Festival
• Paddy Power are offering FOUR places in the each-way betting for the Supreme

What we don't:

• Paddy Power are only BOG from 8am on day of race

William Hill - The Pros and Cons of William Hill for Betting on the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

William Hill have a new sign-up offer of Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets, which can be used on the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

What we like:

• William Hill are offering Four Places on the each-way betting for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival
• William Hill are offering one bet boost every day of the Cheltenham Festival
• William Hill offer an array of markets for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

What we don't:

• William Hill generally only offer Best Odds Guaranteed on 10am on the day of the race

Boylesports - The Pros and Cons of Boylesports for Betting on the Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Boylesports are offering new customers a sign-up deal of Bet £10 Get £20 + £10 Casino Bonus, which can be used on the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

• Boylesports are offering competitive prices on the 2023 Supreme Novices' Hurdle