Skelton excited ahead of Mydaddypaddy’s date at Aintree

Dan Skelton has identified the exciting Mydaddypaddy as the one horse he is relishing running over the festive period.

With Champion Hurdle hope The New Lion and Betfair Chase hero Grey Dawning set to keep their powder dry until Cheltenham Festival Trials day in late January, all eyes will be on the current Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite as he heads to Aintree for the William Hill Formby Novices’ Hurdle.

When asked for the name of the horse he is looking forward to over the busy Christmas schedule, Skelton said: “Mydaddypaddy. It will be great to go into a Grade One with a great chance like that.

“We’re not putting any more weight on his shoulders than there is already, he’s ante-post favourite for the Cheltenham opener and it doesn’t get more pressurised than that, really.

“He’s looked really good and he’s had a nice prep at home and everything is going nicely, so hopefully it continues to do so and I think it will take a good one to beat him (at Aintree). He could get beat, but if we are, then it will be by a really good one.”

Unbeaten in his two outings over timber, Mydaddypaddy is already as short as 4-1 in places for the first race of the Cheltenham Festival in March and his Boxing Day appearance on Merseyside could be the last time he is sighted before Prestbury Park’s showpiece meeting in the spring.

“I believe it will be his last run before the Supreme – without guaranteeing it,” added Skelton.

“It’s what we did last year with The New Lion, we went from the Challow straight to the Festival, so we will probably do the same. But I do reserve the right to change my mind.”