'Jonbon has been flawless' - Nicky Henderson on his scintillating Supreme duo

Tuesday: 1.30 CheltenhamSky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m½f | 4yo+ | ITV/RTV

Not for the first time, hopes of a winning start to the Cheltenham Festival for Britain rest largely with Nicky Henderson, who has saddled Shishkin, Altior, Flown and River Ceiriog to win the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

There are shades of Altior's Supreme in 2016, when Henderson also saddled subsequent dual Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D'Air to finish third, about this year's contest and he will be hoping for a similar result.

Henderson has managed to unearth two more heavyweights this year, with Constitution Hill and Jonbon giving him a formidable team to take on the Irish.

There are few more exciting prospects in Britain or Ireland than Constitution Hill, who won his first start for Henderson by 14 lengths and followed up with a 12-length success in the Grade 1 Tolworth Novices' Hurdle on his next start.

He may be a little light on experience and has yet to race left-handed but it all looked so easy for him at Sandown and, at this point, we could be dealing with just about anything.

"The weekend went smoothly for the whole squad," said Henderson on Monday. "I never really considered running Constitution Hill again after Sandown. Running him in a three-horse race wasn't going to achieve anything.

"He's not had many runs but it's not an enormous field for the Supreme and I'm sure he can cope with most things. He's very straightforward and the honest answer is we don't know how good he is. He does everything very easily, sweetly and sensibly and this is where we find out."

Stablemate Jonbon, a full brother to Douvan who cost owner JP McManus £570,000 from the point-to-point field, comes with arguably an even bigger reputation and a perfect four-from-four record under rules.

Growing more professional with each run, he is already a dual Grade 2 winner, although his biggest winning margin by some way remains his 15-length romp in his sole point start.

"Jonbon has done absolutely nothing wrong at all," said Henderson. "I think he's been equally as good; he's been flawless. Haydock was horrible ground last time but look at the form of the race now and it was a bloody good performance. He's got a ton of pace and you'd be pretty sure there's going to be a good pace on.

"He's settled down enormously through the season and he'll be fine [with the preliminaries]."

Why this horse can win the 2022 Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Dysart Dynamo leads Mullins charge

It took a very good one in Altior to deny the Willie Mullins-trained Min in 2016 and it again looks as if Mullins holds the chief threat to Henderson's big two as he prepares to saddle powerful front-runner Dysart Dynamo.

With seven victories, Mullins has won the Supreme more times than any other trainer and rattled off three-straight wins in the race from 2013.

Having directed last year's Champion Bumper winner Sir Gerhard towards Wednesday's Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, Dysart Dynamo leads a team of three from Closutton for the opening race of the festival, including Kilcruit and easy Naas winner Bring On The Night.

Kilcruit: 'Patrick is very sweet on him' according to trainer Willie MullinsCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Kilcruit, second to Sir Gerhard at last year's festival, is a Grade 1 bumper winner and seemed to be getting the hang of things over hurdles when winning a Punchestown maiden by 21 lengths at the end of January.

Mullins said: "Dysart Dynamo probably looks the pick but Patrick [Mullins] is very happy with Kilcruit and all the work he has been doing.

"I think this ground won't be any harm to him; there's a beautiful covering of grass on it. Patrick is very sweet on him. Bring On The Night ran the other day and, by winning, showed that he was good enough to bring here. But this is going to be a tough ask for him at this stage of his career."

What they say

Joe Tizzard, assistant to Colin Tizzard, trainer of JPR One
He ran with the choke out at Newbury and just didn't get home. We've got it all to do on ratings but I want him to go and enjoy the experience and learn from it. We'll drop him in and try to get him to finish off the race this time.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Mighty Potter
He's in really good shape. It was always the plan to go straight here from Christmas. He's a lovely young horse with more to give. I think he'll run a big race.

Gary Moore, trainer of Shallwehaveonemore
I felt the County Hurdle might be a bit of a culture shock to him and think he'll have a far nicer experience in the Supreme. If he runs into a place he'll have run well. Constitution Hill beat us a long way in heavy ground and will probably do the same again, but if you're not in it you can't win it.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Silent Revolution
He won his only start over hurdles before Christmas after which he had a setback but he's fine now. Obviously, it's a very tough race this year and he would appear to have it all to do.

Tuesday's Cheltenham Festival previews:

2.10 Cheltenham: 'We'll see if he's good enough' – big British hope Edwardstone takes on Irish

2.50 Cheltenham: 'I expect him to run a massive race' – who fancies their chances in the Ultima?

3.30 Cheltenham: 'She's actually in mighty form' – De Bromhead delighted with champ Honeysuckle

4.10 Cheltenham: Telmesomethinggirl bids for another festival triumph in wide-open Mares' Hurdle

4.50 Cheltenham: 'He looks nicely treated' – Paul Townend puts up Gaelic Warrior as best chance

5.30 Cheltenham: 'He looks tailor-made for this' – key quotes and insight for National Hunt Chase

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