Favourite Old Park Star won the 2026 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle to get the Cheltenham Festival underway.
The opening contest was met by its traditional roar, as the 12 runners began their journey. It was punters still roaring at the line as the favourite prevailed.
Ridden by Nico De Boinville, Old Park Star outgunned Sober Glory and Mydaddypaddy in a tough finish to win by a length-and-a-half.
It ensured an unprecedented one-two-three-four for British trainers, with Baron Noir back in fourth.
Festival opener dominated by home team
The traditional curtain-raiser at Cheltenham has been dominated by Ireland in the recent past, with only Nicky Henderson offering up any resistance. Things were different this year though, with Mydaddypaddy for Dan Skelton, and Sober Glory for Philip Hobbs & Johnson White, offering support to Henderson’s favourite Old Park Star.
That relative market confidence was justified too, with Sober Glory particularly well-backed. He made the running under Ben Jones and almost made all.
However, Old Park Star was always prominent. Nico De Boinville was still just over a length behind at the last, which Sober Glory got wrong. Old Park Star then had enough to squeeze out Mydaddypaddy and ultimately finish strongest up the hill.
Baron Noir’s big run back in fourth ensured British trainers had the first quartet home. Unprecedented in recent years, El Cairos was first home of the Irish in fifth.
“It got tough up there” – Henderson
Nicky Henderson was winning the Supreme for the third time this decade. Old Park Star followed in the notable hoofprints of Shishkin and Constitution Hill. He heralded is latest winner as of a similar profile.
“You have to have a Supreme horse,” Henderson said on ITV Racing. “It got tough up there. He had to quicken off a good, solid pace and be brave coming up the hill.”