Although the Grand National at Aintree is the world's most famous steeplechase, the most prestigious National Hunt race meeting is the Cheltenham Festival, with ten Grade 1 jump races carded over 4 days.
Kicking off the Festival on Tuesday March 10 was the £120,000 williamhill.com Supreme Novices' Hurdle (G1). A field of 20 horses aged 4 and up contested this 2 1/16 mile trip over 8 hurdles. 12-1 shot Go Native raced near the back of the pack behind 28-1 pacesetter Golan Way, then gained steadily through the final 3 hurdles to get the hard-fought win by a neck over late-running 12-1 Medermit in 4:01.0 over the good-to-soft course. It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to 40-1 Somersby third, while 9-4 favorite Cousin Vinny stalked the pace but faded late to finish fifth beaten 4 1/2 lengths.
Winning trainer Noel Meade said, "I'm sure Paul felt he got there too soon, I thought he did, but it was just the way it worked out, it was the longest run-in I can ever remember going up that straight, but he got there anyway." Jockey Paul Carberry added, "I fancied him the whole time and he jumped the second-last really well, but I didn’t want to be there too early."
