"He's obviously, very, very good" - Aintree next for new Supreme favourite Mydaddypaddy
Dan Skelton's promising novice, Mydaddypaddy, made an impressive hurdling debut at Carlisle, winning comfortably under Harry Skelton's guidance. This four-year-old, touted as Britain's top novice hurdler, effortlessly cleared his rivals, highlighting his potential for the upcoming season. Skelton plans to aim for the Formby Novices' Hurdle, bypassing Haydock if needed. Bookmakers now rate him 7/1 for the 2026 Supreme Novices' Hurdle. With his impressive debut, Mydaddypaddy could challenge top contenders, including Irish champion Bambino Fever.
- Dan Skelton's novice, Mydaddypaddy, impresses in hurdles debut
- Aims for Formby Novices' Hurdle; skipped Haydock possible
- 7/1 favorite for 2026 Supreme Novices' Hurdle; strong contender
Dan Skelton is eyeing the Formby Novices' Hurdle for crack-novice Mydaddypaddy, following an impressive hurdles debut at Carlisle.
All eyes were on Mydaddypaddy, as Dan Skelton's youngster made his long-awaited hurdling debut on Monday. Harry Skelton's mount recorded a smooth success on his sole bumper outing last term, with many labelling him as the top British novice hurdler ahead of the new season.
The Skelton's have seen a number of their brightest prospects beaten in the early weeks of the season, but Harry never seemed troubled aboard the odds-on favourite. Mydaddypaddy travelled powerfully around Carlisle, and another fluent leap at the final flight allowed him to four-and-a-half lengths clear of his closest rivals without overextending himself.
"We've always liked him." Skelton said in a lengthy post-race interview. "Obviously he won his bumper nicely in the spring time and we looked forward to going jumping with him. I actually tried my hardest not to run him last year because he was only four. To be fair, Dermot (Hanafin) who owns him put no pressure on to run but he was itching to see him rum because our reports had been quite favourable.
"Was just so ready, he was almost naturally ready and you just couldn't hold him back. And I wouldn't say that about too many horses at all, but it was just the right thing to do."
"We're going over hurdles at an early age of four but I don't consider that to be a negative. I'd love him to be five with the spring in mind but he's obviously, very, very good and if they're good enough they're old enough.
"The best thing about him today was if you watched him beforehand, how he walked around. There was no bother on him at all, he was on a loose rein for Amber who looks after him and led him up. There's a bit of Walk In The Park in him - a bit of fire - but the more he's doing the less he pulls and everything is going the right way. It has to, because if you're going to have a really good horse then it all has to go the right way."
Constitution Hill was the last British horse to carry the tag of favouritism into, and win the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. BOYLE Sports were one of several firms to cut Mydaddypaddy into 7/1 favouritism for the 2026 Supreme, and Skelton is eyeing up another Grade One before heading to the opening race of the Cheltenham Festival.
"You've got to have the Tolworth (now Formby Novices' Hurdle, Aintree) in mind, there's an introductory hurdle at Haydock in two weeks and he could go there. We may skip Haydock and go straight there. We'll see how his jumping is.
"I will run on soft ground but I definitely wouldn't run him on heavy, not at this stage of his life. And then we'll look to get him in the best possible shape for the spring, we'll stick to the minimum trip for as long as we can, but this horse's mother got three miles so he'll stay further."
Champion Trainer, Willie Mullins is yet to unleash any of his leading novice hurdlers. Champion Bumper winner, Bambino Fever sits second in the Supreme betting, but on the evidence provided at Carlisle on Monday, Mydaddypaddy could be a match for the top Irish raiders come March.
Top Betting Sites
Betting offers
Upcoming Events
28 May 2026
- 2026 Brigadier Gerard Stakes -
- Horse Racing
30 May 2026
- 2026 Lester Piggott Stakes -
- Horse Racing
05 June 2026
- 2026 Epsom Oaks -
- Horse Racing
Load More
