We have looked at the ten year record on the four leading jockeys in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Between them Ruby Walsh, Richard Johnson, AP McCoy and Barry Geraghty have won 6 and been placed in 13 of the last eleven renewals of the race.
Walsh in particular has been the man to follow with 5 wins in the last decade. He was also runner up in 2007 and those punters availing of bookmaker concessions which paid out of an extra 5 place position would also have got paid out on another two occasions. Backing Ruby and availing of the maximum concession would have got punters off to a flyer at 9 of the last 11 Festivals. Backing him to win at level £1 stakes would have seen punters up £18.50 over the period.
On the other hand Barry Geraghty has yet to win the Supreme Novices’ – it is probably the biggest race he hasnt yet won. He is getting closer though and has been placed in 3 of the 5 renewals run since taking up his position as number one jockey at Nicky Henderson’s yard.This year he is likely to ride the Ante- Post Favourite L’Ami Serge.
It has been all frustration for the Champion Jockey Tony McCoy in this race during the last decade. He has come desperately close on several occasions and has been placed in the race seven times in the last decade finishing runner up five times.
Richard Johnson enjoyed a purple patch in the race between 2007-2010 winning the race on Menorah and being placed on three other occasions. Things have not gone so well since then but punters who stuck by Richard Johnson’s Supreme mounts over the last decade would still be in profit.
We will keep an eye out for all four jockeys likely Cheltenham Festival mounts and bookmarker Supreme Novice Hurdle concessions as the race approaches.
Supreme Novices Hurdle: Ten Year Record of Ruby Walsh, Barry Geraghty, Tony McCoy and Richard Johnson.
| Ruby Walsh | Barry Geraghty | |
| 2005 | 7 – Publican 9/1 | 9 – Akshar 14/1 |
| 2006 | 1 – Noland 6/1 | 10 – O’Muircheartaigh 14/1 |
| 2007 | 2 – Granit Jack 15/2 | – |
| 2008 | 5 – Rippling King 10/1 | 7 – Cork All Star 17/2 |
| 2009 | 12 – Kempes 9/1 | – |
| 2010 | 10 – Blackstairmountain 12/1 | 4 – Oscar Whisky 11/1 |
| 2011 | 1 – Al Ferof 10/1 | 2 – Spirit Son 5/1 |
| 2012 | 5 – Prospect Wells 14/1 | 9 – Tetlami 12/1 |
| 2013 | 1 – Champagne Fever 5/1 | 8 – River Maigue 18/1 |
| 2014 | 1 – Vautour 7/2 JF | 3 – Vaniteux 11/1 |
| Wins/Places/Runs | 4-1-10 | 0-2-8 |
| Return to £ LS | £18.50 | -£8 |
| Tony McCoy | Richard Johnson | |
| 2005 | 4 – Prins Willem 20/1 | 6 – Chilling Place 9/1 |
| 2006 | 2 – Straw Bear 11/1 | – |
| 2007 | 5 – Wins Now 10/1 | 4 – De Soto 12/1 |
| 2008 | 2 – Binocular 8/1 CF | 3 – Snap Tie 20/1 |
| 2009 | 8 – Ainama 14/1 | 4 – Copper Bleu 14/1 |
| 2010 | 2 – Get Me Out Of Here 9/2 | 1 – Menorah 12/1 |
| 2011 | 3 – Sprinter Sacre 11/1 | PU – Dunraven Storm |
| 2012 | 2 – Darlan 7/1 | 13 – Colour Squadron |
| 2013 | 2 – My Tent Or Yours 15/8F | 10 – Cheltenian 25/1 |
| 2014 | 13 – Gilgamboa 9/1 | 14- Garde La Victoire 33/1 |
| Wins/Places/Runs | 0-7-10 | 1-3-9 |
| Return to £ LS | -£10 | £3 |
If you have an opinion on the 2016 Supreme Novice Hurdle share it on our Cheltenham Festival Forum.
