2012 Cheltenham Supreme Novices Hurdle Best Odds and Favourites

Hesitant build up suggest close race for Cheltenham curtain raiser

Horse Racing Betting

We should have a thrilling race on our hands looking at 2012 Cheltenham Supreme Novices Hurdle Best Odds and Favourites. After scanning the card for this year’s race, which is always popular because it really is the curtain raiser for the festival, running on Tuesday, March 13 at 1.30pm, it should be a tightly contested affair. The race, which is the same format in length and course as the Champion Hurdle itself, is reserved for horses who had not won before the start of the new season. We really have a closely matched field lining up to be the first to taste Cheltenham Festival 2012 glory, and it is five year old Darlan who has been heading the ante post betting market for some time now, but has seen the competition close in around him. Darlan, trained by Nicky Henderson was a faller two hurdles out at Newbury on February 17th. That was a big set back in his challenge for a taste of Cheltenham glory this year, but other than that his season has been pretty much flawless, picking up three straight wins, including one at Cheltenham from three outings. It remains to be seen just what effect that will have on Darlan’s chances at Cheltenham now, but it has certainly made the field for the 2012 Supreme Novices Hurdle very interesting.

Nicky Henderson’s Simonsig has been switched from the Supreme Novices to the Neptune, where there will be more distance to suit the charge. Prior to the withdraw, Simonsig had been as short as 5/1 in general for the Supreme. Steps to Freedom has been shaping up pretty well for the challenge and is trading at 7/1 with SkyBet for the Supreme, running off three wins since September after a slow start to the season. There has been a slight hesitation over pulling his price in a little more, because he missed out on a main prep race for Cheltenham. Still, that remains the only hesitation for a horse with a decent amount of potential, and trainer Jessica Harrington didn’t seem to fazed by it all by taking him out of Dundalk. The horse is fine, just a tactical decision. Galileo’s Choice is also trading at 7/1 with Bet365 for the Supreme Novices and he should be in with a good chance after a good showing at Fairyhouse back in the middle of February. There was just one small error in the race, but other than that, he looked in very good shape and the bookies were quick to react to his outing by cutting his odds for the Cheoltenham Festival opener. More importantly, it saw him comfortably beat Terminal which was a good test for him in his standing for Cheltenham. Galileo’s Choice makes a pretty decent option and is attracting a lot of attention.

There are further very handy option back from that as well, with Cinders And Ashes at 8/1 with Boylesports, Montbazon and Midnight Game both trading as 10/1 shots for the opener. So good options in your 2012 Cheltenham Supreme Novices Hurdle Best Odds and Favourites preview. But time for some pointers to help your horse racing betting selections. Form of course plays a big factor with thirteen of the last fifteen Supreme Novices Hurdle renewals and eleven of the last twelve winners ran within 45 days of the Cheltenham opener. Favourites have not fared well at all in this race, they really haven’t, with only three out of the last twenty living up to their starting favouritism. So the build up to 2012 Cheltenham Supreme Novices Hurdle Best Odds and Favourites has been a little stunted with Darlan’s fall, Simonsig’s withdrawal and Steps to Freedom in hiding. Galileo’s Choice seems to be the one making the move forward in the ante post options.

Online bookmaker Boylesports have a great promotion running for your Supreme Novices betting at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival. Make your selection and if it finishes second in the race, then Boylesports will refund your lost stake as a free bet. This is tremendous coverage for the Festival opener, and better still, the promotion extends to the Arkle, the Festival Handicap and the Champion Hurdle this year. So head to Boylesports for this superb coverage on your Cheltenham 2012 horse racing betting. Highly popular bookie Boylesports offer a free £20 bet for new customers registering an account. The bookie will match the value of your first stake on a new account with a free bet, up to the maximum value of £20.