Supreme 2023 Tips - Two selections in Festival opener

Here's our free guide and tips for the 2023 Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Somehow, after that shocking performance at the Dublin Racing Festival, Facile Vega remains one of the favourites for the Supreme. Willie Mullins was quick to point the finger at Paul Townend, claiming he'd run the race at a suicidal pace. The clock would back up those accusations and I'm sure if he could, Townend would ride the race differently. 

It's still far too early to write Facile Vega off and Mullins is confident his star will return to top form at the Cheltenham Festival. Yet, that run at Leopardstown was so deplorable, I won't be tempted to even touch Facile Vega at anything less than 5/1.

The favourite's dreadful showing that day has taken the gloss off what was an excellent showing by Il Etait Temps and last year's Triumph Hurdle fourth is respected. Hunters Yarn looks set to run in the Supreme, meaning stablemate Impaire Et Passe will likely join Gaelic Warrior in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle. Diverge could also represent Ireland's Champion Trainer.

With Luccia much more likely to enter the Mares' Novices' Hurdle, Tahmuras will be Britain's leading Supreme contender. Olly Murphy looks set to run the unbeaten Chasing Fire, with High Definition set to represent Joseph O'Brien, despite that fall at the Dublin Racing Festival.

The more I look at the Supreme, the more I feel like MARINE NATIONALE is the horse to beat. Barry Connell's star won a couple of bumpers during the first half of 2022 and went into the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse on the back of an effortless victory on his hurdles debut at Punchestown.

Michael O'Sullivan's mount travelled powerfully throughout that Grade One, switching off the rail to mount his challenge going into the final bend. Having quickened nicely between the final two flights, Marine Nationale bungled through the last hurdle and looked to have handed Irish Point the race. Despite the short run to the line at Fairyhouse, Connell's mount picked up again and snatched an unlikely victory under the shadow of the post.

Many have been quick to crab the form of that Royal Bond, following Irish Point's poor performance at Leopardstown. Yet, Gordon Elliott's novice had placed second in the Lawlor's Of Naas on the back of that Royal Bond run and looked completely outpaced back over two miles at the DRF. Champ Kiely, beaten favourite in the Royal Bond, heads to the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle after winning the Lawlor's Of Naas. Ashroe Diamond has won a Grade Three after a third-place finish at Fairyhouse and Path D'oroux, who was pulled up in the Royal Bond, has claimed another victory since.

Barry Connell has been incredibly bullish about Marine Nationale's chances in the build-up. Connell immediately stated after the Royal Bond that his charge would head straight to the Supreme and wouldn't need a run in-between. I saw Marine Nationale as more of a middle-distance horse, but Michael O'Sullivan's mount has shown he has gears on both starts over hurdles and Connell is convinced that this horse has more than enough speed for the Supreme. 

Supreme Novices' Hurdle 2023 Tip 2 - Inthepocket