*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

What Salvator Mundi shows you at home is probably a bit more than what Kopek Des Bordes shows you – but what you see on the gallops in Closutton doesn’t really matter.

It’s what they do on the racecourse that counts.

Salvator Mundi did most things wrong when winning at Punchestown and he’s capable of better than that. He needs to jump better but he’s been to Cheltenham (sixth in last season’s Triumph Hurdle) even if his jumping that day wasn’t exceptional either.

I’ve watched him schooling since and he does seem to be able to jump better. I wish he’d do it on the track. He’s still a fair horse, though.

It’s a decision for Paul Townend but you’d be fairly sure he’s going to ride Kopek Des Bordes – but Salvator Mundi would be a good ride for somebody else.

WORKING TOGETHER

They don’t work together. Salvator Mundi wears a hood, he’s a bit keen so he works on his own.

People ask ‘why wouldn’t you work them together?’ But if you pitched the two of them in together at home to find out which is the best one – the chances are you’ll find out but you could leave your race there as well.

You don’t want to leave a race on the gallops so they work with horses who are a little bit inferior to them.

People might think it’s so obvious to work them together from a ‘betting’ point of view, but from a ‘training’ point of view when you’re trying to give both the best chance – you just wouldn’t do it.

SCHOOLING HURDLES

None of Willie Mullins’ horses have run in schooling hurdles this year as the ground has been too dry. We usually go to Thurles racecourse but there hasn’t been any schooling hurdles there this year.

That could have been a factor in Kopek des Bordes’ first run at Leopardstown – the fact that they weren’t away from home.

You have to remember that these are literally an education session for horses. You could have me riding them carrying 12 stone and someone like Jody Townend whose three stone lighter.

You hear people say ‘this one did this in a schooling hurdle’ but it’s of no relevance. Sure the good ones might come to the fore, but again, they could come down the straight in a bunch, because there’s no prize money, there’s no race. It’s just practice, it’s a training session.

I wish schooling hurdles did tell you which one was the best, but I often picked the wrong one early in the season in Ireland in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse or at the old Leopardstown meetings in January, before the DRF came along.

One you know these results, you should know the pecking order by March. That’s only because the evidence on the track is there.

And it’s obvious to everyone else as well.

*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

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