*Paddy Power is now Non Runner Money Back for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. That means that if your selection does not line up in the race you back it in for any reason – you will now get your stake back. TC’s apply. 

*Paddy also has the more traditional ante-post market where you will lose your stake if your selection doesn’t run in the race for whatever reason. 

Paddy Power Media’s ‘From The Horse’s Mouth’ podcast ‘Cheltenham Countdown’ is back as host Tom Nugent picks the brains of the Cheltenham Festival’s winning-most jockey turned TV pundit Ruby Walsh and well-known journalist and broadcaster Rory Delargy for their best Cheltenham betting tips.

In the fifth episode of this year’s series, the gang have looked at the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle ahead of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.

RUBY WALSH

Kopek des Bordes is a very short price for the Supreme Novices Hurdle and you’d have to ask, ‘has he a better profile than former winners Vautour or Douvan had when going into that contest back in the day?’ . He’s a good bit shorter in the market now than they were then.

The one thing that happened between Kopek des Bordes’ first and second run at Leopardstown was that he learned to jump over his hurdles rather than run through them.

He was really impressive at the Dublin Racing Festival (DRF) and put a lot of distance between him and a decent field. He left a huge impression on anyone who saw him.

He’s obviously quite short in the market now for the Supreme Novices Hurdle but are there any negatives for him?

Of course there are – there’s always a negative to consider when you’re such a short price for a Festival race.

Firstly, he’s only had two runs over hurdles and it’s in his nature to get a bit ‘hot’ and fizzed up. He got quite ‘buzzy’ before being saddled at the DRF.

Travel can be a factor too. He’ll leave Closutton on the Saturday night before Cheltenham, so will spend three nights in a new environment before the Festival’s opening race on March 11.

The atmosphere and noise will all start to build on the Tuesday morning and this can have an effect on the younger horses.

It mightn’t be so bad for those running in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle as it’s the first race, but those running in the Turners Novices Hurdle on Wednesday and the Albertt Bartlett on the Friday, will get all the feedback from the grandstands in the Cheltenham stable yard.

These are the small things that aren’t factored into Kopek Des Bordes’ price but could be factored into his performance.

CLOSUTTON’S OTHER CONTENDERS

With regards to Salvator Mundi‘s chances now that Kopek des Bordes has usurped him at the head of the market – we’re no different to anybody else. It’s what you see on the track that counts.

Of Willie’s other entered runners, Kappa Jy Pyke (wide-margin maiden hurdle winner at Punchestown) and Karbau (easy maiden hurdle winner at Punchestown) should run in the Supreme but Kiss Will (impressive winner at Fairyhouse) is a more laid-back type and could step up to 2m 5f in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle on the Wednesday.

As Kappa Jy Pyke and Karbau are more likely to head to the Supreme Novices Hurdle they could be a bit of each-way value against their stablemate Kopek Des Bordes in the non-runner no bet market.

*Paddy Power is now Non Runner Money Back for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. That means that if your selection does not line up in the race you back it in for any reason – you will now get your stake back. TC’s apply. 

*Paddy also has the more traditional ante-post market where you will lose your stake if your selection doesn’t run in the race for whatever reason. 

Read More

• Cheltenham Supreme Novices’ Hurdle tips: Romeo Coolio looks a solid each-way play
• Cheltenham Gold Cup tips: Galopin Des Champs is impossible to oppose but this 8/1 shot may give him a fright on quick ground
• Cheltenham Triumph Hurdle tips: Rory Delargy’s 9/4 non runner money back play for the ‘perfect juvenile hurdler’
• When is the Cheltenham Festival 2025? Dates for this year’s mega meeting
• Cheltenham Festival race times and schedule for 2025 meeting
• Pertemps Final qualification races and eligible horses for Cheltenham Festival 2025

THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO SAFER GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW