Cheltenham Festival news: Appreciate It tops 96 in Sky Bet Supreme

The seven-year-old is among a record 59 fro Ireland. Sponsor Sky Bet make one of the Irish-trained entries, Appreciate It (Willie Mullins), the clear 5/2 favourite. The seven-year-old and was runner-up in thWeatherbys Champion Bumper at The Festival™ in 2020.

He has looked hugely talented when landing both his starts over hurdles this season, most recently sauntering to a nine-length victory in a Grade One contest at Leopardstown on 27 December.

Sky Bet’s 7/1 second favourite is Metier. Originally trained in Ireland by Andrew Slattery, five-year-old has been a revelation since joining Dorset-based Harry Fry, taking novices’ hurdles at Newton Abbot and Ascot before recording a breathtaking 12-length victory in the Grade One Unibet Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown Park on 2 January.

Giving an update on the son of Mastercraftsman, Fry reported: “Metier is a Tolworth winner and the Supreme is the much more likely of the two races [Metier is also entered in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle] but we will just keep our options open at this stage.

“He has got an entry in the Betfair Hurdle in just over a fortnight’s time but there is no definite decision yet. He has done everything right so far over hurdles and he is a very exciting novice that seems to be progressing into either Supreme or a Ballymore horse.

“There is a race at Exeter the day after in which he would only have a 5lb penalty but then if you are looking at that why not run in a Betfair?

“I would say that if he doesn’t run in the Betfair, he would go straight to Cheltenham though you can never say never.

“If the weather keeps as it is there is every chance he will line up in the Betfair Hurdle. I think a better race with an even stronger gallop will suit him better again. We were able to drop him in the last day in the Tolworth, but we would have still been happier if they had gone faster.

“Sean [Bowen] turned in with a double handful and he put plenty of distance between himself and his rivals, particularly after the last. Not many came up the hill that day in the manner he did. He has only just turned five so hopefully there is more to come.

“All his form is on slower ground and it would be interesting to see him on better ground. At some point, we will encounter it but good horses go on all ground.

“We would have to weigh up and decide the pros and cons whether going on better ground means we would have to step him up in trip.”

Fry has also entered Boothill in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle. The six-year-old landed a bumper at Kempton Park in February of 2020 and could not have been more impressive on his hurdling debut when scoring by nine and a half lengths at Taunton on 10 December.

The trainer continued: “Boothill had a splint flare up about 10 days after he won at Taunton and that just held us up for a few weeks. I had hoped to get him back for the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon [Listed, 11 February] but that is just going to come too soon. He could end up going to the Dovecote at the end of February. In the worst-case scenario, he might even end up going straight to Cheltenham but I would like to get another run into him between now and then but we will be guided by him.

“We are back pressing on again with him. Hopefully, we don’t get a recurrence of the splint injury and get a clear run with him. Certainly, on the manner of his debut win at Taunton, there looks to be lots to look forward to.

“Boothill and Metier are completely different types. Metier is an ex-Flat horse that is very workmanlike at home and is very much a hurdler whereas Boothill is a proper chasing type who impresses in everything he does at home.”

Michael Shinners, Head of Sports PR at Sky Bet, said: “We are delighted with the entries for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. This will be our eighth year sponsoring the race and the quality amongst the 96 entries is fantastic.

“At present, Appreciate It for Willie Mullins heads the market but with seven weeks still to go plenty can happen between now and then.”

SKY BET SUPREME NOVICES' HURDLE (Grade 1)

Alko Rouge (FR) 7 11 7 W.T.F. Partnership T. Gibney IRE

Alqamar (GB) 7 11 7 Varlien Vyner-Brooks,Dave&Yvonne Simpson James Moffatt

Any News (IRE) 6 11 7 Jane Nuala Cartwright Neil Mulholland

Appreciate It (IRE) 7 11 7 Miss M. A. Masterson W. P. Mullins IRE

Arctic Warrior (GER) 5 11 7 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins IRE

Atholl Street (IRE) 6 11 7 Mr Trevor Hemmings Paul Nicholls

Ballyadam (IRE) 6 11 7 Cheveley Park Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

Bareback Jack (IRE) 5 11 7 Mr T. G. Leslie Donald McCain

Benson (GB) 6 11 7 Pump & Plant Services Ltd Dr Richard Newland

Berkshire Royal (GB) 6 11 7 Mrs J. M. Mullins W. P. Mullins IRE

Blue Lord (FR) 6 11 7 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins IRE

Bob Olinger (IRE) 6 11 7 Robcour Henry de Bromhead IRE

Boothill (IRE) 6 11 7 Brian & Sandy Lambert Harry Fry

Cadzand (IRE) 6 11 7 CHELSEA THOROUGHBREDS - CADZAND Dan Skelton

Captain Kangaroo (IRE) 6 11 7 Kanga Racing & Brett Graham Syndicate W. P. Mullins IRE

Cask Mate (IRE) 8 11 7 High Spirits Racing Club Noel Meade IRE

Champagne Gold (IRE) 6 11 7 Mr Barry Maloney Henry de Bromhead IRE

Decimation (IRE) 6 11 7 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE

Do Your Job (IRE) 7 11 7 Mr Mark Dunphy Michael Scudamore

Dreal Deal (IRE) 6 11 7 Ronan M. P. McNally Ronan M. P. McNally IRE

El Barra (FR) 7 11 7 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE

Eskylane (IRE) 7 11 7 K Haughey/Laura Haughey/Kieran T Byrne Gordon Elliott IRE

Eurotiep (FR) 7 11 7 Down The Hatch Syndicate W. P. Mullins IRE

Excelcius (USA) 5 11 7 Mrs H. Mullins Thomas Mullins IRE

Fifty Ball (FR) 6 11 7 Mr Steven Packham Gary Moore

Flinteur Sacre (FR) 6 11 7 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson

Fly Smart (FR) 6 11 7 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE

For Pleasure (IRE) 6 11 7 Premier Plastering (UK) Limited Alex Hales

Frere Tuck (FR) 6 11 7 Mr Cathal Hughes W. P. Mullins IRE

Gabynako (FR) 6 11 7 Mick & Molly Syndicate Gavin Cromwell IRE

Gaillard du Mesnil (FR) 5 11 7 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins IRE

Galopin des Champs (FR) 5 11 7 Mrs Audrey Turley W. P. Mullins IRE

Ganapathi (FR) 5 11 7 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins IRE

Gentleman de Mee (FR) 5 11 7 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins IRE

Gentlemansgame (GB) 5 11 7 Robcour M. F. Morris IRE

Get My Drift (FR) 5 11 7 Mr John P. McManus M. F. Morris IRE

Gipsy de Choisel (FR) 5 11 7 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson

Gloire d'Athon (FR) 5 11 7 Cheveley Park Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE

Gowel Road (IRE) 5 11 7 Options O Syndicate Nigel Twiston-Davies

Grand Bornand (FR) 5 11 7 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE

Great Bear (GB) 5 11 7 Thomas J. O'Connor T. Gibney IRE

Grumpy Charley (GB) 6 11 7 Mr G. Thompson Chris Honour

Guard Your Dreams (GB) 5 11 7 Graham and Alison Jelley Nigel Twiston-Davies

Hes A Hardy Bloke (IRE) 6 11 7 Hammer & Trowel Syndicate Noel Meade IRE

Irascible (FR) 6 11 7 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE

Irish Poseidon (GER) 5 11 7 Spoonful of Irish Syndicate Matthew J. Smith IRE

Jesse Evans (IRE) 5 11 7 Jack Singleton Noel Meade IRE

Jungle Boogie (IRE) 7 11 7 Mr Malcolm C. Denmark W. P. Mullins IRE

Kalkas (FR) 5 11 7 Sean & Bernardine Mulryan Henry de Bromhead IRE

Keskonrisk (FR) 6 11 7 Mr Claudio Michael Grech Joseph Patrick O'Brien IRE

Make My Day (IRE) 5 11 7 Mr Steven Packham Gary Moore

M C Muldoon (IRE) 6 11 7 Mrs J. M. Mullins W. P. Mullins IRE

Metier (IRE) 5 11 7 Mr G. C. Stevens Harry Fry

Micro Manage (IRE) 5 11 7 Merriebelle Irish Farm Limited W. P. Mullins IRE

Mr Coldstone (IRE) 5 11 7 Mr David Bobbett W. P. Mullins IRE

My Drogo (GB) 6 11 7 Mr & Mrs R. Kelvin-Hughes Dan Skelton

N'Golo (IRE) 6 11 7 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE

Natural History (GB) 6 11 7 Hail Sargent Evans Gary Moore

Numbers Man (IRE) 5 11 7 The Reserve Tankers Colin Tizzard

On To Victory (GB) 7 11 7 HP Racing On To Victory Alan King

Orbys Legend (IRE) 5 11 7 Highclere Thoroughbred Racing - Milan Philip Hobbs

Pipesmoker (FR) 6 11 7 Lady Dulverton Nicky Henderson

Power of Pause (IRE) 6 11 7 Miss M. A. Masterson W. P. Mullins IRE

Qualismart (FR) 5 11 7 Kate & Andrew Brooks Harry Whittington

Raf Tavel (FR) 5 11 7 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Ben Pauling

Rayapour (FR) 5 11 7 McNeill Family W. P. Mullins IRE

Restandbethankful (GB) 5 11 7 McNeill Family & Patrick&Scott Bryceland Olly Murphy

Robin's Dream (GB) 5 11 7 Mr Jerry Hinds & Mr Ashley Head Gary Moore

Rumoroso (GB) 6 11 7 Mrs Audrey Turley W. P. Mullins IRE

Sea Ducor (GB) 5 11 7 C. Jones A. L. T. Moore IRE

Sextant (GB) 6 11 7 Straightline Bloodstock Keith Dalgleish

Shakem Up'arry (IRE) 7 11 7 Mr Harry Redknapp Ben Pauling

Soaring Glory (IRE) 6 11 7 Mr P. Hickey Jonjo O'Neill

Solwara One (IRE) 7 11 7 Mrs Jane Gerard-Pearse Neil Mulholland

Stoner's Choice (GB) 6 11 7 Mrs Carolyn Kendrick Fergal O'Brien

Straw Fan Jack (GB) 6 11 7 Mr Graham Wilson Sheila Lewis

Thedevilscoachman (IRE) 5 11 7 Mr John P. McManus Noel Meade IRE

Third Time Lucki (IRE) 6 11 7 Mike and Eileen Newbould Dan Skelton

Uhtred (IRE) 6 11 7 Gigginstown House Stud Joseph Patrick O'Brien IRE

Visionarian (IRE) 6 11 7 Mr Basil Holian Peter Fahey IRE

Wide Receiver (IRE) 6 11 7 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

Witness Protection (IRE) 8 11 7 FOXTROT RACING WITNESS PROTECTION Martin Keighley

Beret Rouge (IRE) 6 11 0 Mrs J. M. Mullins W. P. Mullins IRE

Echoes In Rain (FR) 5 11 0 Barnane Stud W. P. Mullins IRE

French Aseel (FR) 4 11 0 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins IRE

Gauloise (FR) 5 11 0 Mr K. Alexander W. P. Mullins IRE

Haut En Couleurs (FR) 4 11 0 Mrs J. Donnelly W. P. Mullins IRE

Hook Up (FR) 5 11 0 Mrs S. Ricci W. P. Mullins IRE

Manitopark Aa (FR) 5 11 0 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins IRE

Mighty Blue (FR) 5 11 0 Capel Street Syndicate Joseph Patrick O'Brien IRE

Nada To Prada (GB) 6 11 0 Mrs Lynne Maclennan Michael Scudamore

Royal Illusion (IRE) 9 11 0 Ballylinch Stud W. P. Mullins IRE

Teahupoo (FR) 4 11 0 Robcour Gordon Elliott IRE

Tritonic (GB) 4 11 0 McNeill Family & Mr Ian Dale Alan King

Youmdor (FR) 4 11 0 McNeill Family W. P. Mullins IRE

Zanahiyr (IRE) 4 11 0 Noel Moran/Mrs Valerie Moran Gordon Elliott IRE

96 entries

59 Irish-trained