The Willie Mullins-trained novice hurdler who could be absolutely anything - plus other key talking points
David Jennings looks at some of the big issues following the entries for the novice events at the festival
Lulamba Supreme entry a surprise scare for ante-post Triumph backers
Not since Hors La Loi III way back in 1999 has a four-year-old won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and before that it was King Pele in 1973. The birth of the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle means the Triumph Hurdle is no longer the cavalry charge it used to be, so very few top-notch juveniles take on their elders in the festival opener anymore.
The most recent stellar name to try was Binocular in 2008, who was sent off 8-1 co-favourite (imagine that!), but he couldn't get by Captain Cee Bee and had to settle for second.
Joe Donnelly has the Supreme favourite in Salvator Mundi, but has also left in red-hot Triumph Hurdle favourite Lulamba. Interesting.
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Published on inFestival Fields
Last updated
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- Grade 1-winning Willie Mullins 66-1 shot is worth a bet in wide-open Supreme
- 'He's absolutely the one to beat' - Tom Park with ante-post advice on the Arkle and Brown Advisory
- Less choice has helped but multiple entries still leave plenty of unanswered Cheltenham questions for punters
- Sir Gino set for Game Spirit prep as Nicky Henderson opts to go down Altior route to Arkle
- Record-low entry for Brown Advisory in past 15 years despite axing of Turners