Ante post market leaders Shishkin and Abacadabras headline 86 2020 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle entries for the traditional 2m Grade 1 curtain-raiser at the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday, 10 March.
Shishkin hails from the yard of Nicky Henderson, who has a fine record in the race, and shot to the head of bookmaker betting following an impressive 11 length success at Newbury.
He had previously fallen on debut for the Seven Barrows handler at the same venue when travelling strongly and looking the likely winner.
Shishkin is due to have his final prep race at Sandown this Saturday.
The Gordon Elliott trained Abacadabras, who has won two of his four starts over hurdles, is set to contest a Grade 1 at Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival the following day.
Elliott’s brilliant unbeaten six-year-old Envoi Allen also holds and entry, but is more likely to head for the Ballymore according to his handler.
Henry De Bromhead’s twice-raced hurdler Captain Guinness is likely to head straight to Cheltenham after going down narrowly to Andy Dufresne in the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer at Punchestown.
It’s surprising that the winner isn’t among Supreme Novices’ Hurdle entries following that success.
Willie Mullins, the most successful current trainer in the race with six wins, has a whopping 25 horses engaged in total.
His team includes Asterion Forlonge, who looked a hugely exciting prospect when scoring easily in a Naas maiden hurdle, and last year’s Champion Bumper runner-up Blue Sari.
Full 2020 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle entries
- Abacadabras (Gordon Elliott, IRE)
- Addis Ababa (Johnny Farrelly)
- Alfa Mix (Gavin Cromwell, IRE)
- Allart (Nicky Henderson)
- Allmankind (Dan Skelton)
- Asterion Forlonge (Willie Mullins, IRE)
- Avarchie (Martin Smith)
- Beacon Edge (Noel Meade, IRE)
- Benson (Dr Richard Newland)
- Berkshire Royal (Willie Mullins, IRE)
- Blackbow (Willie Mullins, IRE)
- Blue Sari (Willie Mullins, IRE)
- Broad Street (Luke Comer, IRE)
- Buzz (Nicky Henderson)
- Captain Guinness (Henry De Bromhead, IRE)
- Cayd Boy (Liz Doyle, IRE)
- Cedarwood Road (Gearoid O’Loughlin, IRE)
- Chantry House (Nicky Henderson)
- Ciel De Neige (Willie Mullins, IRE)
- Concertista (Willie Mullins, IRE)
- Conflated (Gordon Elliott, IRE)
- Construct (John McConnell, IRE)
- Daylight Katie (Gordon Elliott, IRE)
- Do Your Job (Michael Scudamore)
- Dolcita (Willie Mullins, IRE)
- Easywork (Gordon Elliott, IRE)
- Ecco (Paul Nicholls)
- Eden Du Houx (David Pipe)
- Edwardstone (Alan King)
- Elixir d’Ainay (Willie Mullins, IRE)
- Enemy Coast Ahead (Tom George)
- Envoi Allen (Gordon Elliott, IRE)
- Fan De Blues (Willie Mullins, IRE)
- Fiddlerontheroof (Colin Tizzard)
- Fidelio Vallis (Paul Nicholls)
- Fix Sun (Nicky Henderson)
- Flic Ou Voyou (Paul Nicholls)
- Fly Smart (Willie Mullins, IRE)
- Fourbi (Luke Comer, IRE)
- Francin (Willie Mullins, IRE)
- Fred (Nicky Henderson)
- Frere Tuck (Willie Mullins, IRE)
- Fugitives Drift (Nicky Henderson)
- Global Society (Nicky Henderson)
- Glynn (Nicky Henderson)
- Hang In There (Emma Lavelle)
- Heaven Help Us (Paul Hennessy, IRE)
- Hollow Sound (Luke Comer, IRE)
- Jabbaar (Iain Jardine)
- Janidil (Willie Mullins, IRE)
- Jason The Militant (Henry De Bromhead, IRE)
- Jeremys Flame (Gavin Cromwell, IRE)
- Jon Snow (Willie Mullins, IRE)
- Jungle Junction (Jessica Harrington, IRE)
- Kid Commando (Anthony Honeyball)
- L’Air du Vent (Colin Tizzard)
- Lamarckise (Willie Mullins, IRE)
- Logan Rocks (Amy Murphy)
- Lucky One (Willie Mullins, IRE)
- Mario De Pail (Sam Thomas)
- Marlborough Sounds (Amy Murphy)
- Master Debonair (Colin Tizzard)
- Mt Leinster (Willie Mullins, IRE)
- Nickolson (Olly Murphy)
- On To Victory (Alan King)
- Pacify (Jamie Snowden)
- Protektorat (Dan Skelton)
- Saint Roi (Willie Mullins, IRE)
- Scardura (Neil Mulholland)
- Shan Blue (Dan Skelton)
- Shishkin (Nicky Henderson)
- Sir Psycho (Paul Nicholls)
- Sir Valentine (Nigel Twiston-Davies)
- Sixshooter (Noel Meade, IRE)
- Son Of Camas (Nicky Henderson)
- Soviet Pimpernel (Peter Fahey, IRE)
- Sporting John (Philip Hobbs)
- Stolen Silver (Nigel Twiston-Davies)
- Thebannerkingrebel (Jamie Snowden
- Tiger Tap Tap (Willie Mullins, IRE)
- Time To Study (Luke Comer, IRE)
- Unexcepted (Willie Mullins, IRE)
- West Cork (Dan Skelton)
- Whatsnotoknow (Mouse Morris, IRE)
- Wild Max (Paul Nicholls)
- Yukon Lil (Willie Mullins, IRE)
