The Supreme Novices' Hurdle has been won by an Irish invader in an incredible 10 of the last 17 renewals. Two recent winners (Hors La Loi III and Brave Inca) have gone on to win the Champion Hurdle whilst three horses to finish second in this event have subsequently triumphed in the Gold Cup, namely Best Mate, Kicking King and War Of Attrition.

Of all the trainers likely to have a runner in this year's contest, it is Nicky Henderson who arguably has the best record in the race having saddled four placed horses in the race since 1997. Christy Roche (one winner and two places) and Noel Meade (one winner and one place) are Irish trainers to consider seriously if they are represented this year, whilst Tony McCoy has ridden the runner up in two of the last three years.

The wide-open nature of the Supreme Novices' ensures that punters looking for a long-odds runner to back each-way can often be rewarded into the frame, though it's worth noting for real longshot backers that just one horse has belied odds of 50/1 or more by finishing in the money since 1997.

If you approach the race looking to put lines through horses that do not qualify via the trends, you will want to know that 30 of the last 34 winners were five or six-year-olds whilst 12 of the last 13 scorers had won on their previous start - this statistic does not do much support the claims of likely favourite Cousin Vinny, who unseated his inexperienced rider Patrick Mullins when looking sure to score at Leopardstown last month. Cousin Vinny already has a Festival win to his name, having taken the Champion Bumper 12 months ago.

Also prominent in the betting is the David Pipe-trained Torpichen, Sky Bet's second favourite, who will be out to defy trends that strongly suggest four-year-olds struggle against their older and more-experienced rivals. Howard Johnson often has his team primed to fire at this meeting and he saddles unbeaten five-year-old Red Moloney, well backed in recent days after three impressive wins at Musselburgh. This represents a significantly stiffer challenge, but he could well be up to the Festival challenge and is a 10-1 chance with Sky Bet.