14-1 into 4-1: Cheltenham’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle has a new favourite 🤩

The Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle took place at Punchestown on Sunday and it was certainly informative with regards to the Cheltenham Festival in March. The opening race of that week is the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Sunday’s winner has been catapulted into favouritism for it as a result of the impressive performance. JP McManus owns the horse, whilst Willie Mullins trains him and his pedigree is eye-catching. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.

Mystical Power

This horse was available at 14-1 before his seven-length victory at Punchestown on Sunday but it didn’t take long for his price to collapse afterwards. The bookies cut him into 4-1, a mere fraction of his previous price, and he now heads the market.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about Willie Mullins’ five-year-old is his pedigree. The gelding is the first progeny produced by Champion Hurdle-winner Annie Power and is by the greatest Flat sire of our generation, Galileo.

Unbeaten in three starts so far, he made his debut in a Ballinrobe bumper back in May, duly obliging at the skinny odds of 2-5. Mullins’ charge has been very strong at the finish in both hurdles starts so far and that perhaps indicates that he’ll want further in time. Plenty of stamina will be required to win a Supreme though and this trip should be fine for now.

He’ll need to sharpen up his jumping if he’s to feature in what should be a very competitive and strong renewal this year. That should improve as he gets more experience and another run between now and March should help. One thing is for sure, he has a significant engine and it’ll be fascinating to see how far he can go over hurdles.

Mystical Power @ 4-1 (Supreme Novices’ Hurdle)

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