'I've never had one potentially this good' - Max McNeill ecstatic as No Drama This End made Cheltenham Festival favourite after dazzling at Sandown

Max McNeill has had plenty of great horses race in his silks but he suspects No Drama This End has the potential to surpass them all after a brilliant success in the Betfair Winter Novices' Hurdle. 

The five-year-old was given a last-minute call up for the Grade 2 contest after Paul Nicholls saw he would face just four rivals and the 4-9 favourite duly obliged with another effortless success under Harry Cobden, sweeping five lengths clear of The Blue Room without coming off the bridle to claim his second Graded prize in a row. 

"I can honestly say I've never been so nervous on a racecourse," an ecstatic McNeill said. "The Grand National perhaps, but I was just that nervous today. We had a lovely runner in the race before but all I was thinking about was this lad. 

"He won so well at the November meeting and I really wanted to see him do it again, but there was a moment on the home turn where I thought this isn't going the way we thought. 

"Thankfully it was only about two seconds, and when Harry glanced between his legs down the home straight I thought maybe he is going as well as he looks. I couldn't watch the last two hurdles because I just wanted him to get home, but in the end it was very impressive. 

The scene in the Sandown winner's enclosure after the Winter Novices' HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

No Drama This End was swiftly cut to 6-1 favourite (from 12) by Coral for the Turners Novices' Hurdle and 10-1 (from 12) for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, but McNeill and co-owners Chris and Giles Barber could have a host of options in the meantime for the talented novice, with the Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury on December 29 and Cheltenham Trials day among the possible next steps. 

"I've been lucky enough to have some really good horses but this horse could be special," McNeill said. "He's so exciting, I've never had one potentially this good. Whether we have a look at the Challow now is up to Paul and the team, but I'd be happy either way. All the horses in this race were good horses, but today we just had that bit extra."

Turners Novices' Hurdle (Cheltenham, March 11)
bet365: 6 No Drama This End, 8 Doctor Du Mesnil, 14 Love Me Tender, 16 Bambino Fever, Sober Glory, 20 Koktail Brut, Mydaddypaddy, Sortudo, 25 bar

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