Cue Card gave trainer Colin Tizzard a thrill at last year’s Festival when winning the Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper and after a debut success over hurdles at Aintree in October, went on to defeat Dunraven Storm in the Grade Two Cheltenham Collection Sharp Novices’ Hurdle at The Open in November. On his latest start, he ran a gallant second to last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle victor Menorah in the Grade Two StanJames.com International at Cheltenham on December 11.
Nicky Henderson saddled River Ceiriog (1986) and Flown (1992) to victory and has 14
entries, including impressive Grade One Tolworth Hurdle victor Minella Class, the unbeaten French Listed winner Spirit Son, classy bumper winner Sprinter Sacre and Gibb River, impressive when winning both his starts over hurdles.
Paul Nicholls’ eight entries includes the talented four-year-old Sam Winner, impressive when winning twice at Cheltenham in November and December but below that form on soft ground in a Chepstow Grade One on January 8, when fourth to the Brian Ellison-trained juvenile Marsh Warbler.
Nicholls has also engaged Rock On Ruby, whose impressive winning streak ended when runner-up to Bobs Worth in the Grade Two Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day (January 29), Indian Daudaie, who was third to Local Hero in the Grade Two JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial on the same card and Tolworth Hurdle third Toubab.
Nicholls’ Al Ferof was third to the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Backspin in the Grade One Challow Hurdle at Newbury in December. Backspin lost his unbeaten tag when fourth to Bobs Worth on Festival Trials Day.
Ireland’s champion trainer Willie Mullins took the spoils with Tourist Attraction in 1995 and Ebaziyan in 2007 and has 11 entries headed by Zaidpour, winner of the Grade One Royal Bond Hurdle at Fairyhouse on December 15. Later that month, the five-year-old went down by a neck to the Mouse Morris-trained First Lieutenant in the Grade One Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.
The Mullins contingent also includes dual Grade Two victor Gagewell Flyer who held stablemate Earlson Grey by a neck to win the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle on January 30 and recent Leopardstown maiden hurdle winner Day Of A Lifetime.
Hidden Universe won the Grade One Champion Bumper at Punchestown in April and Dermot Weld’s charge made an easy winning debut over hurdles at Leopardstown on December 30. The four-year-olds Tillahow from the Morris yard and Toner D’Oudairies from the Gordon Elliott stable have both landed Grade Three contests this term.
Another trainer with two Supreme Novices’ Hurdle wins is Edward O’Grady (1978 Golden
Cygnet, 2003 Back In Front) whose five entries include Grade Two Bord Na Mona Fire Magic Juvenile Novice Hurdle winner Sailors Warn and unbeaten four-time winner The Real Article, while Noel Meade, also with two winners (2002 Sausalito Bay, 2009 Go Native), has engaged Dilshaan’s Prize and Prima Vista.
As well as Dunraven Storm, last season’s winning trainer Philip Hobbs has entered Dare Me, unbeaten in two starts over hurdles, while Donald McCain could saddle Sedgefield winner Charminster and the useful Drill Sergeant and Alan King’s entries include Iolith, winner of his last two starts.
The Gary Moore-trained Megastar landed the Grade Two bumper at Aintree in April, made a winning debut over hurdles and has since been runner-up in two further starts, behind Rock On Ruby at Newbury and Minella Class in the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle.
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Cue Card is ante-post favourite for the 2011 Supreme Novices' Hurdle
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