Bear Faces Supreme Challenge

Straw Bear has been confirmed as a definite starter in the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday.

Unbeaten on both his starts over hurdles, Nick Gifford revealed that the talented five-year-old will go for the Supreme Novices' instead of the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle.

'He's in top form and I couldn't be happier with him,' the trainer told the Racing Post.

Straw Bear, who is owned by JP McManus, is as low as 9-1 to win the Supreme Novices' on the first day of the Festival.

? PA Sport