13:30 Tuesday

The Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday starts with the Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, and while it doesn't look as though it will be the strongest of renewals, it should prove to be a cracker. 

Willie Mullins has the favourite in Tullyhill, while Nicky Henderson has the unbeaten Jeriko Du Reponet in the field. 

Let’s take a closer look at the leading contenders for this year’s renewal of the race before providing you with a potential tip or two. 

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Runners

Mystical Power - 4/1

Willie Mullins' Mystical Power is unbeaten in three starts, once in a bumper and twice over hurdles, and comfortably beat a good field by seven lengths in the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle last time out. 

His jumping hasn’t been all that fluent in his two wins, but he clearly possesses an engine, and the way he dispatched former Champion Bumper third, James’s Gate, was visually impressive. The five-year-old did have the option of stepping up in distance to contest the Baring Bingham.

However, evidence suggests he has plenty of speed, and a strongly-run two-mile championship event could be right up his street and see his jumping fruition. He will need to raise his game, but I expect him to do so, so he must be shortlisted. 

Tullyhill - 3/1

Another representative for Mullins is the favourite, Tullyhill. He has looked good in winning his last couple of starts over hurdles and must be respected for his powerful trainer and owner. 

After winning on his debut at Gowran Park, he only found A Dream To Share too good at Punchestown, which is quality form, given what the latter did at Cheltenham in the champion bumper race. 

He began his hurdles campaign with a disappointing second, having been sent off as a 1/8 favourite, but has improved the last two times and evidently has plenty of speed.

I think going left-handed will see this horse in an even better light, and I fully expect his jumping to be pinpoint accurate next week, especially under an attacking ride.

Firefox - 11/2

Firefox was turned over in his first two bumper starts but won all three in that sphere last year prior to defeating Ballyburn (re-routed to the Gallagher Novices' Hurdle) on his hurdles debut at Fairyhouse. 

He couldn’t quite see out two and a half miles when he tackled the Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle when only fourth, but he travelled best for a long way, and the return to two miles in this race has firmly been on the agenda since his defeat. 

Slade Steel - 5/1

Having chased home Ballyburn at the Dublin Racing Festival, Slade Steel for Henry de Bromhead has been among the most popular bets through oddschecker for Day 1 at the Festival. The six-year-old accounted for 19% of all Supreme Novices’ Hurdle bets over the weekend.

Jeriko Du Reponet - 15/2

Another of the few leading contenders not trained by Willie Mullins is Jeriko Du Reponet for Nicky Henderson, who has an excellent overall record in the race.

This JP McManus-owned six-year-old is unbeaten in three outings over hurdles, and despite being forced to work harder than anticipated when winning at Doncaster last time out, the form has been well-documented since. 

The second and third subsequently fought out the finish in the Grade 2 Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle, so the form has a lot of substance, and I reckon he is better than he showed that day as well. 

A stronger pace scenario should see him to even better effect, and it would come as no surprise to see him heavily involved in the outcome of this race with improvement to come.

Tellherthename - 25/1

He will represent the Ben Pauling team, who are having a cracking season, and his handler has often expressed how much he holds this horse in the highest regard. 

He came close to making a successful hurdles debut before going one better next time, but fluffed his lines in a Grade 1 race at Aintree. However, he subsequently got back on track when returning a wide-margin winner at Huntingdon. 

That was his second win over that course and distance, and this has been the plan since, although he bypassed the Betfair Hurdle due to unfavourable conditions. 

He still has to prove his worth at the highest level, especially going left-handed, but if he’s as good as connections believe him to be, then he could easily outrun his odds. 

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Tips & Prediction

I like the claims of the Gordon Elliott-trained FIREFOX (tipped 9/2 at confirmation stage). He could only finish fourth when stepping up in trip last time out, but he travelled the best of the field, and the drop-in trip should see him back to his best. 

I have watched the replay of his hurdle debut success numerous times, and I just cannot help but be impressed with the way he beat Ballyburn by more than two lengths under a confident, positive ride. 

TULLYHILL (tipped 4/1) is the other one I want on side in the race. He has won his last couple of starts very impressively, having been beaten on his hurdles debut over a trip too far, and should be suited to Cheltenham going left-handed. 

Besides that defeat on his hurdles debut, he has done very little wrong and won’t be hindered by any sort of ground description. He should be able to find the requisite improvement, and I am struggling to see him out of the frame. However, I’ll go WIN only.