Mydaddypaddy out of Aintree's Molyneux Hurdle because of the ground

Mydaddypaddy will not run in the William Hill Molyneux Hurdle at Aintree on Saturday (1:45). Connections have withdrawn the Dan Skelton-trained five-year-old because of the going, which is good to soft, good in places on the hurdles course.

The race was to be his first run outside novice company and his return this season. Skelton had already played down Saturday as a stepping stone, telling the Racing Post: "We're concentrating on the journey rather than this race."

A Champion Hurdle hopeful

Owned by Dermot Hanafin and rated 153, Mydaddypaddy finished third in last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and is among the leading contenders for the Champion Hurdle in March. No new target has been named yet.

Four left at Aintree

His withdrawal leaves Alexei (Joe Tizzard, Harry Cobden), the top-rated runner on 158, clear at the head of the field. Gordon Elliott's four-year-old filly Mange Tout (Mark Walsh), a winner of four of her last five starts, is his nearest rival in the market, with Nicky Henderson's Lucky Place (Nico de Boinville) and Melon (Robert Dunne) completing the line-up.

Full card and IQ ratings: Aintree racecard.