THIS season’s novice hurdlers are a notably talented bunch, and that was shown in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, in which Shishkin and Abacadabras came clear in a race run at an even stronger gallop than the Champion, the leader (Asterion Forlonge) getting to three out nearly 10 lengths ahead of the leader in the Champion (Petit Mouchoir).

Abacadabras cruised into the lead after two out (where Elixir d’Ainay and Captain Guinness departed when close up), briefly going about 6/1 on in play, but was joined by Shishkin at the last and just worried out of it at the death.