After winning the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday, Salvator Mundi shortened as the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite at the Cheltenham Festival. Last season’s Triumph Hurdle sixth is the long-time market leader for the opening race of the four-day spectacular and worth closer inspection.
Salvator Mundi Divides Opinion After Hard-Fought Moscow Flyer Win, With Many Jumping Errors
Sent off the 8/15 favourite for the Moscow Flyer, Salvator Mundi was expected to take the Punchestown race with a bit more ease than he did. Yes, horse racing fans that didn’t watch the race and see the three-length winning margin might think it was an easy victory.
However, it was far from it – as it was only in the final furlong that Paul Townend managed to get the five-year-old to the front. After several sketchy jumps during the race, this has led some Cheltenham fans scratching their heads.
This is because the positive that could outweigh the jumping errors was that it’s clear this Willie Mullins-trained horse has a big engine.
Willie Mullins Bagged 11th Moscow Flyer with Salvator Mundi
It was also the 11th success in the Moscow Flyer for Closutton maestro Mullins, who first won this in 2009 with Mikael D’Haguenet. The stiff Cheltenham finish looks sure to suit Salvator Mundi too.
Townend told the racing media after the race that his jumping at home is a lot better. That will be some comfort for backers on Cheltenham betting sites who took ante post prices for the Supreme.
Don’t forget this was also his first run back in 242 days, so Salvator Mundi should improve for it and also learn more for the experience. It was only his fourth run over hurdles and third race since owners Joe & Marie Donnelly purchased him from France.
Salvator Mundi takes something of a rare route to the Supreme after that stable debut for connections in the Triumph during last season’s Festival. You won’t find many horses (if any) that ran in both those races in consecutive campaigns.
As a result of his Punchestown win, the Salvator Mundi Cheltenham odds hardened up as the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite. Layers don’t want to take any chances with him at this stage, ahead of the Festival opener on Tuesday, 11 March.
However, those looking to take Salvator Mundi on might be keen to known the race has only seen two winning outright Cheltenham favourites in this race since 2015. These were both Mullins mounts, however, in Douvan (2015) and Appreciate It (2021).
Being the first race of the Festival, the Supreme is also famous for having many Cheltenham betting offers to look out for.
Paul Townend – “Unwise To File Salvator Mundi In The ‘Bad Jumper’ Drawer”
Despite many novice-looking jumps, Townend said after the race that Salvator Mundi is still a good jumper and has shown that plenty of times at home.
🗣️”He can jump much better than that.”@PTownend suggests it would be unwise to file Salvator Mundi in the ‘bad jumper’ drawer after winning the Sky Bet Club Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle.
The winner is a top-price 4/1 for the Supreme. pic.twitter.com/tg3DNhqZpm
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 12, 2025
Who Was The Last Moscow Flyer Winner To Win The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle?
Go back 12 months, and 2024 Moscow Flyer winner Mystical Power went onto finish a close second in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Prior to that in 2023, Impaire Et Passe landed the Punchestown race en route to victory in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.
However, the last horse to win both the Moscow Flyer and the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle was Douvan in 2015. These were also both trained by Willie Mullins. Only a season earlier, Vautour also did the double – these are the only past Cheltenham winners to win both races.
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 2025 Details
📅Date: Tuesday 11th March 2025
⌚Time: 1:20pm
🏇Racecourse: Cheltenham
🔄Trip: 2m 87y
💷Total Purse: £150,000
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV
Willie Mullins Has Won The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Seven Times
Trainer Willie Mullins is also the winning-most hander in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. The Closutton maestro has mopped-up seven wins in the Festival opener over the years.
He first struck with Tourist Attraction in 1995, then in three consecutive seasons from 2013 to 2015, and his most recent victory came with Appreciate It in 2021.
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Winners For Mullins
- 1995 – Tourist Attraction
- 2007 – Ebaziyan
- 2013 – Champagne Fever
- 2014 – Vautour
- 2015 – Douvan
- 2019 – Klassical Dream
- 2021 – Appreciate It
