Festival Focus - Supreme Novices' Hurdle 2015

Back The Jolly - Jollyallan looks a good bet in the opener.

Given what a favourite’s graveyard the Cheltenham festival opener is there’s always value to be had in taking on a short-priced favourite in the Supreme.

Vautour went some way to making amends for several beaten favourites over the last few years when running away with this race twelve months ago and his stable mate Douvan will attempt to do so again twelve months on for the same connections.

However with the market looking well and truly at sea for the race that is always accompanied by the famous ‘Cheltenham roar’ with the exception of the top two in the betting there is definitely some value to be had elsewhere in the market. 

Following the sad loss of Allez Colombieres, Douvan has established himself as the leading contender of the platoon Willie Mullins could run here. He’s won both starts in emphatic style including the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer on his most recent start.

He’s done all that’s been asked of him and done so in a manner that suggests there’s more to come when he is finally properly tested, as he should be at Cheltenham.