IT'S BALLYADAM FOR A FAST FESTIVAL START

Charlie McCann looks ahead to the Supeme Novices Hurdle

- Charlie McCann

Happy New Year and let us all hope that 2021 sees things return to something like the norm we all took for granted before the ongoing global pandemic. The countdown to Cheltenham 2021 began back in April fuelled by the lack of the Aintree and Punchestown Festivals and the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is one of my favourite races of the meeting, although I would say that with Shishkin’s remarkable success of 2020 so vivid in my memory.

The Irish have trained five of the last eight winners with Willie Mullins saddling four and Gordon Elliot landing the prize courtesy of the enigmatic Labaik back in 2017. Elliot is likely to be represented by Ballyadam – 8/1 with Betfair – who did not impress everyone at Fairyhouse in the Grade 1 Royal Bond but always appeared to have the race under control. The five-year-old son of Fame And Glory has won three of his four starts under Rules and has gone off odds on in all his outings.