Cheltenham Festival 2026 Ante-Post Tips - Back Willie's Supreme contender at 25/1
Le Divin Enfant has emerged as a formidable contender for the 2026 Supreme Novices' Hurdle after an impressive hurdling debut at Thurles. Trained by Willie Mullins, who has a history of success with novice hurdlers at Cheltenham, Le Divin Enfant pulled 23 lengths clear in his latest race, indicating his potential. With a planned race in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown over the holidays, a strong performance could cement his status as a top pick for the festival. Trainer comments suggest untapped potential, increasing anticipation for his future appearances.
- Ante-Post Tips for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival
- Le Divin Enfant looked good when winning at Thurles recently
- We're backing Willie Mullins' youngster at 25/1 for the 2026 Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Our second ante-post selection for the Cheltenham Festival is a promising contender for the 2026 Supreme Novices' Hurdle, who impressed on his recent hurdling debut.
Here's my second ante-post selection for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
2026 Supreme Novices' Hurdle Tips - Le Divin Enfant
Willie Mullins tends to dominate the novice hurdle races at the Cheltenham Festival, so I'm keen to get one of his top young hurdlers on-side at an early stage. While he faced little in the way of competition, I was taken by the way LE DIVIN ENFANT (25/1) opened up on his hurdles debut at Thurles, and fancy he could be one of Willie's better novices.
Le Divin Enfant raced twice as a three-year-old in France back in 2024, finishing fourth on both occasions. This Saint Des Saints gelding ran green on his bumper debut in July of that year, before finishing ten lengths adrift of a certain Lulamba in an 18-furlong maiden hurdle.
Paul Townend was eager to get on with things aboard the 1/6 favourite at Thurles. The market leader seemed to be doing a half-speed throughout, but jumped well on the whole and pulled 23 lengths clear of his closest rival over the final furlong, as the rest of the field finished strung out behind him.
Willie Mullins has had plenty of fun with The Masterson's horses down the years. Kilcruit won a Grade One bumper. Champ Kiely and Appreciate It both won Grade Ones as novice hurdlers, with the latter scoring in the Supreme in 2021.
Willie Mullins has had plenty of fun with The Masterson's horses down the years. Kilcruit won a Grade One bumper. Champ Kiely and Appreciate It both won Grade Ones as novice hurdlers, with the latter scoring in the Supreme in 2021.
Le Divin Enfant's next port of call seems certain to be the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on Boxing Day. Mullins has Sortudo entered there, but he seemed more of a staying prospect to me. Love Me Tender and Davy Crockett are likely runners in JP McManus' colours. Bambino Fever and Doctor Du Mesnil have been entered too, but their prices suggest that Mullins has other targets in mind for his much-talked-about duo.
In the immediate aftermath of his win at Thurles, Paul Townend said that Le Divin Enfant "gave him the feel of a good horse, without dipping into the tank at all". His full brother, Imperial Saint improved when stepped up in trip, but Mullins' youngster didn't look short of speed to me at Thurles, and a Grade One win over Christmas would establish Le Divin Enfant as one of Willie's leading contenders for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
2026 Cheltenham Festival Ante-Post Bets Book
| Name | Race | Price Taken | Price Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honesty Policy | 2026 Stayers' Hurdle | 16/1 | 16/1 |
| Le Divin Enfant | 2026 Supreme Novices' Hurdle | 25/1 | NA |
Verdict
Le Divin Enfant is our ante-post selection for the 2026 Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
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