STANGE thing about the top novice hurdlers and the Cheltenham Festival. You agonise over targets, Supreme or Ballymore, and yet, history tells you that you need stamina for the Supreme over two miles, and that you need speed for the Ballymore over an extended two and a half.

Some recent Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winners have had latent stamina in abundance: Summerville Boy, a Relkeel Hurdle winner, runner-up in the Cleeve Hurdle and now a Stayers’ Hurdle contender; Vautour, a JLT Chase winner, a Ryanair Chase winner and runner-up in a King George; Champagne Fever, a Red Mills Chase winner, a Clonmel Oil Chase winner, and fourth in a King George; Al Ferof, a Paddy Power Gold Cup winner, a dual Amlin Chase winner and placed in three King Georges.