Appreciate It is 5/2 favourite with the sponsors after 96 entries were unveiled for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham.
The seven-year-old is among a record 59 fro Ireland. Sponsor Sky Bet make one of the Irish-trained entries, Appreciate It (Willie Mullins), the clear 5/2 favourite. The seven-year-old and was runner-up in thWeatherbys Champion Bumper at The Festival™ in 2020.
He has looked hugely talented when landing both his starts over hurdles this season, most recently sauntering to a nine-length victory in a Grade One contest at Leopardstown on 27 December.
Sky Bet’s 7/1 second favourite is Metier. Originally trained in Ireland by Andrew Slattery, five-year-old has been a revelation since joining Dorset-based Harry Fry, taking novices’ hurdles at Newton Abbot and Ascot before recording a breathtaking 12-length victory in the Grade One Unibet Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown Park on 2 January.
Giving an update on the son of Mastercraftsman, Fry reported: “Metier is a Tolworth winner and the Supreme is the much more likely of the two races [Metier is also entered in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle] but we will just keep our options open at this stage.
“He has got an entry in the Betfair Hurdle in just over a fortnight’s time but there is no definite decision yet. He has done everything right so far over hurdles and he is a very exciting novice that seems to be progressing into either Supreme or a Ballymore horse.
“There is a race at Exeter the day after in which he would only have a 5lb penalty but then if you are looking at that why not run in a Betfair?
“I would say that if he doesn’t run in the Betfair, he would go straight to Cheltenham though you can never say never.
“If the weather keeps as it is there is every chance he will line up in the Betfair Hurdle. I think a better race with an even stronger gallop will suit him better again. We were able to drop him in the last day in the Tolworth, but we would have still been happier if they had gone faster.
“Sean [Bowen] turned in with a double handful and he put plenty of distance between himself and his rivals, particularly after the last. Not many came up the hill that day in the manner he did. He has only just turned five so hopefully there is more to come.
“All his form is on slower ground and it would be interesting to see him on better ground. At some point, we will encounter it but good horses go on all ground.
“We would have to weigh up and decide the pros and cons whether going on better ground means we would have to step him up in trip.”
Fry has also entered Boothill in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle. The six-year-old landed a bumper at Kempton Park in February of 2020 and could not have been more impressive on his hurdling debut when scoring by nine and a half lengths at Taunton on 10 December.
The trainer continued: “Boothill had a splint flare up about 10 days after he won at Taunton and that just held us up for a few weeks. I had hoped to get him back for the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon [Listed, 11 February] but that is just going to come too soon. He could end up going to the Dovecote at the end of February. In the worst-case scenario, he might even end up going straight to Cheltenham but I would like to get another run into him between now and then but we will be guided by him.
“We are back pressing on again with him. Hopefully, we don’t get a recurrence of the splint injury and get a clear run with him. Certainly, on the manner of his debut win at Taunton, there looks to be lots to look forward to.
“Boothill and Metier are completely different types. Metier is an ex-Flat horse that is very workmanlike at home and is very much a hurdler whereas Boothill is a proper chasing type who impresses in everything he does at home.”
Michael Shinners, Head of Sports PR at Sky Bet, said: “We are delighted with the entries for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. This will be our eighth year sponsoring the race and the quality amongst the 96 entries is fantastic.
“At present, Appreciate It for Willie Mullins heads the market but with seven weeks still to go plenty can happen between now and then.”
SKY BET SUPREME NOVICES' HURDLE (Grade 1)
Alko Rouge (FR) 7 11 7 W.T.F. Partnership T. Gibney IRE
Alqamar (GB) 7 11 7 Varlien Vyner-Brooks,Dave&Yvonne Simpson James Moffatt
Any News (IRE) 6 11 7 Jane Nuala Cartwright Neil Mulholland
Appreciate It (IRE) 7 11 7 Miss M. A. Masterson W. P. Mullins IRE
Arctic Warrior (GER) 5 11 7 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins IRE
Atholl Street (IRE) 6 11 7 Mr Trevor Hemmings Paul Nicholls
Ballyadam (IRE) 6 11 7 Cheveley Park Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Bareback Jack (IRE) 5 11 7 Mr T. G. Leslie Donald McCain
Benson (GB) 6 11 7 Pump & Plant Services Ltd Dr Richard Newland
Berkshire Royal (GB) 6 11 7 Mrs J. M. Mullins W. P. Mullins IRE
Blue Lord (FR) 6 11 7 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins IRE
Bob Olinger (IRE) 6 11 7 Robcour Henry de Bromhead IRE
Boothill (IRE) 6 11 7 Brian & Sandy Lambert Harry Fry
Cadzand (IRE) 6 11 7 CHELSEA THOROUGHBREDS - CADZAND Dan Skelton
Captain Kangaroo (IRE) 6 11 7 Kanga Racing & Brett Graham Syndicate W. P. Mullins IRE
Cask Mate (IRE) 8 11 7 High Spirits Racing Club Noel Meade IRE
Champagne Gold (IRE) 6 11 7 Mr Barry Maloney Henry de Bromhead IRE
Decimation (IRE) 6 11 7 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE
Do Your Job (IRE) 7 11 7 Mr Mark Dunphy Michael Scudamore
Dreal Deal (IRE) 6 11 7 Ronan M. P. McNally Ronan M. P. McNally IRE
El Barra (FR) 7 11 7 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE
Eskylane (IRE) 7 11 7 K Haughey/Laura Haughey/Kieran T Byrne Gordon Elliott IRE
Eurotiep (FR) 7 11 7 Down The Hatch Syndicate W. P. Mullins IRE
Excelcius (USA) 5 11 7 Mrs H. Mullins Thomas Mullins IRE
Fifty Ball (FR) 6 11 7 Mr Steven Packham Gary Moore
Flinteur Sacre (FR) 6 11 7 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson
Fly Smart (FR) 6 11 7 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE
For Pleasure (IRE) 6 11 7 Premier Plastering (UK) Limited Alex Hales
Frere Tuck (FR) 6 11 7 Mr Cathal Hughes W. P. Mullins IRE
Gabynako (FR) 6 11 7 Mick & Molly Syndicate Gavin Cromwell IRE
Gaillard du Mesnil (FR) 5 11 7 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins IRE
Galopin des Champs (FR) 5 11 7 Mrs Audrey Turley W. P. Mullins IRE
Ganapathi (FR) 5 11 7 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins IRE
Gentleman de Mee (FR) 5 11 7 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins IRE
Gentlemansgame (GB) 5 11 7 Robcour M. F. Morris IRE
Get My Drift (FR) 5 11 7 Mr John P. McManus M. F. Morris IRE
Gipsy de Choisel (FR) 5 11 7 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson
Gloire d'Athon (FR) 5 11 7 Cheveley Park Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE
Gowel Road (IRE) 5 11 7 Options O Syndicate Nigel Twiston-Davies
Grand Bornand (FR) 5 11 7 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE
Great Bear (GB) 5 11 7 Thomas J. O'Connor T. Gibney IRE
Grumpy Charley (GB) 6 11 7 Mr G. Thompson Chris Honour
Guard Your Dreams (GB) 5 11 7 Graham and Alison Jelley Nigel Twiston-Davies
Hes A Hardy Bloke (IRE) 6 11 7 Hammer & Trowel Syndicate Noel Meade IRE
Irascible (FR) 6 11 7 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE
Irish Poseidon (GER) 5 11 7 Spoonful of Irish Syndicate Matthew J. Smith IRE
Jesse Evans (IRE) 5 11 7 Jack Singleton Noel Meade IRE
Jungle Boogie (IRE) 7 11 7 Mr Malcolm C. Denmark W. P. Mullins IRE
Kalkas (FR) 5 11 7 Sean & Bernardine Mulryan Henry de Bromhead IRE
Keskonrisk (FR) 6 11 7 Mr Claudio Michael Grech Joseph Patrick O'Brien IRE
Make My Day (IRE) 5 11 7 Mr Steven Packham Gary Moore
M C Muldoon (IRE) 6 11 7 Mrs J. M. Mullins W. P. Mullins IRE
Metier (IRE) 5 11 7 Mr G. C. Stevens Harry Fry
Micro Manage (IRE) 5 11 7 Merriebelle Irish Farm Limited W. P. Mullins IRE
Mr Coldstone (IRE) 5 11 7 Mr David Bobbett W. P. Mullins IRE
My Drogo (GB) 6 11 7 Mr & Mrs R. Kelvin-Hughes Dan Skelton
N'Golo (IRE) 6 11 7 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE
Natural History (GB) 6 11 7 Hail Sargent Evans Gary Moore
Numbers Man (IRE) 5 11 7 The Reserve Tankers Colin Tizzard
On To Victory (GB) 7 11 7 HP Racing On To Victory Alan King
Orbys Legend (IRE) 5 11 7 Highclere Thoroughbred Racing - Milan Philip Hobbs
Pipesmoker (FR) 6 11 7 Lady Dulverton Nicky Henderson
Power of Pause (IRE) 6 11 7 Miss M. A. Masterson W. P. Mullins IRE
Qualismart (FR) 5 11 7 Kate & Andrew Brooks Harry Whittington
Raf Tavel (FR) 5 11 7 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Ben Pauling
Rayapour (FR) 5 11 7 McNeill Family W. P. Mullins IRE
Restandbethankful (GB) 5 11 7 McNeill Family & Patrick&Scott Bryceland Olly Murphy
Robin's Dream (GB) 5 11 7 Mr Jerry Hinds & Mr Ashley Head Gary Moore
Rumoroso (GB) 6 11 7 Mrs Audrey Turley W. P. Mullins IRE
Sea Ducor (GB) 5 11 7 C. Jones A. L. T. Moore IRE
Sextant (GB) 6 11 7 Straightline Bloodstock Keith Dalgleish
Shakem Up'arry (IRE) 7 11 7 Mr Harry Redknapp Ben Pauling
Soaring Glory (IRE) 6 11 7 Mr P. Hickey Jonjo O'Neill
Solwara One (IRE) 7 11 7 Mrs Jane Gerard-Pearse Neil Mulholland
Stoner's Choice (GB) 6 11 7 Mrs Carolyn Kendrick Fergal O'Brien
Straw Fan Jack (GB) 6 11 7 Mr Graham Wilson Sheila Lewis
Thedevilscoachman (IRE) 5 11 7 Mr John P. McManus Noel Meade IRE
Third Time Lucki (IRE) 6 11 7 Mike and Eileen Newbould Dan Skelton
Uhtred (IRE) 6 11 7 Gigginstown House Stud Joseph Patrick O'Brien IRE
Visionarian (IRE) 6 11 7 Mr Basil Holian Peter Fahey IRE
Wide Receiver (IRE) 6 11 7 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE
Witness Protection (IRE) 8 11 7 FOXTROT RACING WITNESS PROTECTION Martin Keighley
Beret Rouge (IRE) 6 11 0 Mrs J. M. Mullins W. P. Mullins IRE
Echoes In Rain (FR) 5 11 0 Barnane Stud W. P. Mullins IRE
French Aseel (FR) 4 11 0 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins IRE
Gauloise (FR) 5 11 0 Mr K. Alexander W. P. Mullins IRE
Haut En Couleurs (FR) 4 11 0 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins IRE
Hook Up (FR) 5 11 0 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE
Manitopark Aa (FR) 5 11 0 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins IRE
Mighty Blue (FR) 5 11 0 Capel Street Syndicate Joseph Patrick O'Brien IRE
Nada To Prada (GB) 6 11 0 Mrs Lynne Maclennan Michael Scudamore
Royal Illusion (IRE) 9 11 0 Ballylinch Stud W. P. Mullins IRE
Teahupoo (FR) 4 11 0 Robcour Gordon Elliott IRE
Tritonic (GB) 4 11 0 McNeill Family & Mr Ian Dale Alan King
Youmdor (FR) 4 11 0 McNeill Family W. P. Mullins IRE
Zanahiyr (IRE) 4 11 0 Noel Moran/Mrs Valerie Moran Gordon Elliott IRE
96 entries
59 Irish-trained
