(3 minutes read)
With Cheltenham Festival 2026 just weeks away, we take this opportunity to cast our eye over the ante-post markets for the Grade One novice hurdle events.
This includes The Supreme Novices Hurdle, The Turners Novices Hurdle, and The Triumph Hurdle. Top Cheltenham Festival 2026 odds and best Cheltenham Festival 2026 bets provided by our partner firms, bet365, William Hill, Bet Victor, Betfred and Boylesports.
The Supreme Novices Hurdle, Tuesday March 11th
Latest Best Odds
Old Park Star 9/4 (bet365, William Hill, Betfred, Boylesports)
El Cairos 9/2 (Bet365, William Hill, Betfred, Boylesports)
Talk The Talk 8/1 (bet365, William Hill, Bet Victor, Betfred, Boylesports)
Mydaddypaddy 12/1 (bet365)
Mighty Park 12/1 (bet365, William Hill, Bet Victor, Betfred)
Idaho Sun 16/1 (bet365, William Hill, Bet Victor, Betfred)
Old Park Star is the latest Seven Barrows trained superstar and he could be something special after notching up two devastating wins at Cheltenham and Haydock recently, 12 lengths and 18 lengths respectively. Nicky Henderson has an outstanding record in this race with high profile favourites. However, 9/4 does not inspire great enthusiasm.
El Cairos seems to be the unluckiest horse around. He looked to be in a great position to win the Champion Bumper at The Cheltenham Festival last year before being bumped, although recovered well to get within 5 lengths of eventual winner and highly rated Bambino Fever. Now with Gordon Elliott, this relatively unexposed horse is tipped to give a bold run in the Supreme.
Talk The Talk trained by Joseph O’Brien may well have won the big novice hurdle Grade One at Leopardstown over Christmas but for falling at the last when in a great position. He has not done anything wrong this season and with a clear run and some improvement, he enters each way calculations. Mydaddypaddy and Mighty Park have decent claims if they demonstrate improvement.
Verdict
An interesting race in that several of these came unstuck when looking like winning decent races so the formbook looks incomplete. Considering Nicky Henderson’s great record in this race, Old Park Star could be the one to beat.
The Turner Novices Hurdle, Wednesday March 12th
Latest Best Odds
No Drama This End 7/2 (Bet365)
Mighty Park 12/1 (Bet365)
Act Of Innocence 12/1 (William Hill, Bet Victor, Betfred, Boylesports)
Skylight Hustle 14/1 (William Hill)
Ill Sort That 16/1 (Bet365)
It’s quite rare thing these days for Paul Nicholls to have an ante-post favourite in a Grade One Cheltenham Festival race. However, No Drama This End has come on leaps and bounds this season, registering three wins on the bounce including a gutsy win in the Newbury Grade One Challow Hurdle.
Mighty Park is a mystery card although he won his maiden very easily: the McManus-Mullins combination cannot be ignored but a second glimpse of the horse would be useful.
We will know more about Act Of Innocence after his Cheltenham trials outing on Saturday whilst Skylight Hustle won the recent Grade One at Leopardstown, taking advantage of Talk The Talk’s fall at the last.
Verdict
Difficult to judge No Drama At This End’s chances against the Irish challenge so it might be prudent to edge with the Mullins entry Mighty Park based on his impressive maiden win. However, this is a race to avoid for ante-post purposes until clarity with trainer decisions become more definite.
The JCB Triumph Hurdle, Friday 13th March
Latest Best Odds
Narciso Has 4/1 (William Hill)
Proactif 7/1 (Bet365, William Hill, Betfred, Boylesports)
Mange Tout 8/1 (Bet365)
Maestro Conti 10/1 (Bet365, William Hill, Bet Victor, Betfred, Boylesports)
Fantasy World 12/1 (Bet365, William Hill, Boylesports)
Macho Man 16/1 (Bet365)
Narciso Has is the chief Willie Mullins entry and he comes here with an eleven length Grade Two juvenile hurdle win at Leopardstown over 2 miles which justifies favouritism here, although he was earlier beaten by the Gordon Elliott trained Mange Tout.
Willie Mullins also saddles Proactif who surprisingly beat the highly rated Macho Man at Fairyhouse earlier this month. Mange Tout, as mentioned, has the beating of Narciso Has, however juvenile form is infamously difficult to judge so places could easily be reversed on the day. Fantasy World has each way claims if producing his best.
Verdict
One of the most difficult races of the Cheltenham Festival to solve. However, each way value clearly lies with Macho Man who definitely has more to come based on his reputation.
Please note all odds are correct at the time of publishing (5pm 31st January 2026) and are subject to change
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