Mydaddypaddy 7-1 clear favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle after dazzling on hurdles debut

Mydaddypaddy is clear favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle after making an assured debut over hurdles at Carlisle on Monday.

Dan Skelton was delighted with the four-year-old's return to action after the 1-2 favourite made ground from the back of the pack and easily pulled four and a half lengths clear under Harry Skelton.

Owned by Dermot Hanafin, Mydaddypaddy was already prominent in the betting for the Cheltenham Festival's curtain-raiser having won his bumper at Huntingdon by 11 lengths in March but was cut to 7-1 (from 12) by Paddy Power, with no firms going bigger than 8-1.

Dan Skelton said to Racing TV: “I tried my hardest not to run him last season because he was only four. To be fair, Dermot who owns him put no pressure on to run but was itching to see him run because our reports have been quite favourable. He was so ready, he was naturally ready and I almost couldn’t hold him back.

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“He’s only as fit as all my novices are. I did explain to Dermot that he may take a blow and if he got beat, then he got beat, but it was class that got him through in the end. 

"There was a bit of pressure because you want to go and see a nice clear round, but, with the support of the owners, we build into the season rather than set the fireworks off early, with the novices especially, which is a very helpful position to be in."

An introductory hurdle at Haydock in two weeks' time will be considered by Skelton before a tilt at Grade 1 company in the Formby Novices' Hurdle. 

He added: “I'll run on soft ground but I definitely won’t run him on heavy. We hope to get him in the best shape we can for the spring and I know Dermot would dearly love to stay at two miles, and at the moment that doesn’t seem to be an issue.”

Harry and Dan Skelton have their team in great formCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Mydaddypaddy was Skelton's seventh winner since Friday and Real Quartz added a second victory on the card in the second division of the maiden hurdle at prohibitive odds of 1-6.

The Skeltons completed a treble in the closing race when Lune Brillante got the better of 6-4 favourite Trinity Street in the 2m1f bumper.

Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Cheltenham, March 10)
Paddy Power: 7 Mydaddypaddy, 12 Bambino Fever, 16 Sober Glory, Place De La Nation, 20 El Carios, Love Me Tender, 25 bar

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