Paul Kealy evaluates how Shishkin got the better of Abacadabras in the Supreme

Continuing our new series dissecting all the big races at Cheltenham, Racing Post tipster Paul Kealy dissects Shishkin's Supreme Novices' Hurdle

The start

A dramatic opening to a dramatic 2020 Cheltenham Festival began with what almost seems like a mandatory false start in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

However, if any horse's chance was compromised then, there were others who fared much worse during what was a rough race. Still, a race-winning Racing Post Rating of 162 is 3lb higher than the ten-year rolling average and the front two pulled a long way clear, so there are reasons to be positive.