Derryhassen Paddy and Sixmilebridge line up for midweek cracker at Ayr

Derryhassen Paddy and Sixmilebridge will lock horns in a fascinating midweek clash at Ayr on Wednesday.

Derryhassen Paddy won a bumper and his first two starts over hurdles for Lucinda Russell, who now trains in partnership with Michael Scudamore, and rounded off last season with an excellent third in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival.

The six-year-old kicks off his career over fences in the Play Coral “Racing-Super-Series” “Chasing Excellence” Beginners’ Chase, but his task is not straightforward, with Fergal O’Brien’s Sixmilebridge rated just 1lb inferior having won three of his five hurdling starts, including a Grade Two at Cheltenham.

Of Derryhassen Paddy, Scudamore said: “It’s been the plan to get him over fences for some time and his form is there for everyone to see.

“He’s built like a chaser and he’s schooled very well at home. Two and a half (miles) would be the shorter end of what he wants but conditions are going to be pretty testing, so that should make up for that, and we’re just really looking forward to getting him out and getting him started.

“There aren’t loads of these novice chases coming up and everyone has been waiting on the ground. It’s great for Scottish racing that you’ve got two good horses taking each other on and Ayr is a lovely place to go and start novice chasers.

“Obviously we’d love it if Sixmilebridge hadn’t turned up, but it makes a proper race of it that he has.”

Scudamore is keen to see how Derryhassen Paddy performs before considering plans for the rest of the season, adding: “I’m sure whatever he does he’ll come on for the run plenty. He hasn’t been away, but he’s done plenty of work at home and he’s been as good as ever.

“At this stage of the season you just want them to get everything right and have a nice time and all being well we can dream about bigger targets further down the line.”