Cheltenham Festival racing tips: All you need for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday

THE Cheltenham Festival is finally here!

The famous roar will send the runners for the Supreme on their way at 1.30 on Tuesday – we have taken a close look at the opener on day one.

A cracking renewal of this contest, for which the exciting Shishkin has been towards the head of the betting for several weeks.

He has no doubt been impressive at Newbury and Huntingdon the last twice, but this is an altogether different ball game and Menorah (2010) was the last horse to win the race with no previous Graded form over timber.

In the same ownership of Joe Donnelly, ASTERION FORLONGE is preferred.

He has done nothing but improve (and surprise) this season, with Willie Mullins, who has said the horse is not impressive in his work, admitting that he had long been planning an Albert Bartlett tilt.

He clearly saves his best for the track and he took the step up into Grade 1 company in his stride when a clearcut winner of the old Deloitte at Leopardstown last month (that race has proven a good Festival stepping stone for Klassical Dream, Samcro, Vautour and Champagne Fever since 2013).

That was on a sound surface around the tight inner track, so if anyone suggests this horse isn't quick enough to win a Supreme they're talking out of their backside.

He stays the trip strongly, something which is key in a race in which they normally go flat out, and he is versatile as regards ground.

Fiddlerontheroof was a ready winner of the Tolworth when last sighted in January and shouldn't be underestimated. The Tizzard team have been making all the right noises in recent days.

Abacadabras heads into this with a solid preparation under his belt. He was a comfortable Grade 1 winner at Leopardstown over Christmas.

But that race has turned out to be pretty average form and their is a suspicion he may come up a tad short.

Chantry House is something of a dark horse and he commands respect for his powerful connections, for all he boasts a similar profile to stablemate Shishkin.

At a price, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Captain Guinness and the strong-travelling Edwardstone in the mix for the places.

 

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