The 2021 Cheltenham Festival begins today with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle first up on the schedule.
Only eight runners were declared for the Grade 1 contest, which has last year’s Champion Bumper runner-up Appreciate It as a short-priced favourite. Willie Mullins’ seven-year-old is unbeaten over hurdles and will be looking to give his trainer a record seventh win in the race.
The British challenge is headed by the Harry Fry-trained Metier, who blitzed the field in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle in January and has been freshened up ahead of this race, with connections eventually deciding to swerve the valuable Betfair Hurdle to focus on the Festival.
In his absence, that race at Newbury was won by Soaring Glory, and after much deliberation, his connections have decided to take their chance this afternoon.
Ballyadam, now trained by Henry De Bromhead after being switched from Gordon Elliott only a fortnight ago, will have to reverse form with Appreciate It, having twice finished behind his rival, though he shaped well in defeat at the Dublin Racing Festival last time out. Blue Lord finished third in the same race and must have an each-way chance, too.
When is the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle?
The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle will be run today (Tuesday, March 16, 2021) at 1:20pm GMT.
You can view the full Festival schedule here.
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle odds
(Odds provided by Betfair and are subject to change)
- Appreciate It 4/5
- Metier 13/2
- Ballyadam 15/2
- Soaring Glory 13/1
- Blue Lord Between 13/1 & 14/1
- Irascible 45/1
- Grumpy Charley 45/1
- For Pleasure 64/1
How to watch the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
TV channel: The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle will be shown live on ITV1 and Racing TV.
Live stream: TV licence payers can stream the race for free via the ITV Hub website and app. Subscribers can also stream the action via the Racing TV website.
More information on how to watch the Festival can be found here.
