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The Cheltenham Roar will first be heard as the field for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices Hurdle takes to the track at 1.30pm.
A quality field makes for the perfect race to get the Festival underway with 12 runners declared for the 2 mile challenge.
The curtain raiser at the Cheltenham Festival is beginning to take shape, with a deep field of two-mile novice hurdlers set to clash in the Supreme. As ever, the market has shifted repeatedly in recent weeks, with prep runs on both sides of the Irish Sea reshaping the picture.
Not long ago, confidence was high that Harry and Dan Skelton could make a fast start to the week with Mydaddypaddy. The gelding impressed at Carlisle before backing it up with a solid display at Haydock, earning a mark of 138 ahead of a Boxing Day Grade 1 at Aintree. Sent off favourite, he was beaten by Idaho Sun, trained by Harry Fry, in a race that did not quite go to script.
Some have wondered whether the omission of the second-last hurdle played a part. Idaho Sun may have been better suited to the way the race unfolded, while Mydaddypaddy’s jumping might have been more of a factor in a fuller test. It leaves his claims open to debate heading into March.
Attention soon turned to Ireland, where Talk The Talk created a strong impression. JP O’Brien described him as the best novice he has trained, and he looked set to justify that view at Leopardstown after Christmas until he came down at the last on testing ground.
He put that mishap behind him at the Dublin Racing Festival, showing real determination to claw back two rivals after the final hurdle and get up on the line. Ballyfad and King Rasko Grey were both within half a length at the finish and pushed him all the way, suggesting the form may stand up well.
El Cairos has also had a dramatic route to the Festival. On his debut for Gordon Elliott at Christmas, he appeared to be travelling best before falling after the last. Rather than return to the Dublin Racing Festival, he was sent to Thurles for a maiden and duly delivered, though not without another scare at the final flight.
Jack Kennedy later admitted he could have helped the horse more approaching the hurdle, but the key point was that El Cairos got the job done. Elliott believes he has the class for this level, and Cheltenham will provide the answer.
The Reverend was still in contention when Harry Cobden parted company with him at the Dublin Racing Festival, yet his current rating of 134 leaves him with ground to make up on the leading Irish contenders.
Skylight Hustle capitalised on Talk The Talk’s earlier fall and produced a striking performance to earn a mark of 146. Talk The Talk has since achieved a higher rating of 154, which underlines the depth of the Irish challenge.
Britain’s hopes do not rest solely with the Skeltons. Old Park Star has done little wrong this season and produced a dominant display in a Grade 2 at Haydock, running out an 18-length winner.
The opposition may not have been the strongest, but the manner of victory caught the eye. Sober Glory also entered the reckoning after a commanding 13-length success at Newbury, where his jumping was sharp from start to finish. He had previously beaten Kadastral by the same margin at Chepstow, proving his ability across different tracks and ground conditions.
Final declarations will trim the list, yet the early signs point to a fiercely competitive opener. With strong cases on both sides of the Irish Sea and several runners still open to improvement, the Supreme looks set to provide a fitting start to the Festival.