Melon survived a final-flight scare to make a successful reappearance in the WKD Hurdle at Down Royal
Melon survived a final-flight scare to make a successful reappearance in the WKD Hurdle at Down Royal.
The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old held a big reputation long before he made a winning start to his jumping career at Leopardstown in January and an impressive display followed by some bullish reports ensured he was joint-favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.
While the chestnut gelding came up short in the Festival curtain-raiser, he ran with plenty of credit to fill the runner-up spot behind Labaik, before finding only stablemate Cilaos Emery too strong in the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown the following month.
He was the 2/5 favourite to make a winning return to action in this two-mile Grade Two and was settled in behind his stablemate Coquin Mans and Wakea for much of the two-mile journey.
Wakea dropped away rounding the home turn, leaving the two Mullins inmates to fight it out and Melon was winning the argument when he pecked on landing after jumping the final flight.
Thankfully for favourite-backers, the mistake did not halt his momentum, and he galloped on to score by a fairly comfortable four and a half lengths.
Walsh said: "He was a big, raw horse last year and did exceptionally well to do what he did.
"He has strengthened up considerably; he's a bigger, stronger horse. He was only a frame of a horse last year. He looks a more robust, stronger horse now who is improving with age. It was a good performance to beat race-fit horses in Coquin Mans and Wakea.
"He has to keep improving but it is a good starting point. He quickened up well.
"Paul (Townend on Coquin Mans) kind of stretched me at the top of the hill. I had a couple of lengths to make up on him and he closed it down quick."
When asked if he would get two and a half miles, Walsh added: "He probably will but I don't know if he will have to. I'd rather have him than be looking at him!"
Melon is a 14/1 chance with Sky Bet for the Champion Hurdle.
Just Janice (9/2) claimed her second victory in the space of a week with a tenacious display in the Lough Construction Ltd. Irish EBF Mares Novice Hurdle.
The prolific Mystic Theatre was the 2-5 favourite to provide Mullins and Walsh with a fourth successive victory in the Grade Three contest and appeared in control at the head of affairs until crashing out two flights from the finish.
Turning out just four days after scoring at Galway, the John Kiely-trained Just Janice was dropped out last for much of the race by Davy Russell, before coming with a withering late run to beat Creation by four and a quarter lengths.
Russell said: "The Flynns (owners) are sporting people and I have a long association with them. This is great, to repay them with a success like this, because it is so valuable for the filly and for the pedigree, so it's a great day for all around.
"John had given me the go ahead to do what I wanted so I took a chance and it worked out. I was making a run anyway (when Mystic Theatre fell) and then we got down into the nitty gritty.
"I thought Puppy (Robbie Power on Lesley Dawn) was staying really well on my inside.
"When we levelled off after the last my one got the better of the argument and she got a great jump at the last and put it to bed then."
Just Janice was one of two winners on the afternoon for Russell having steered the prohibitively-priced Poli Roi home in front in the opening Eventsec Maiden Hurdle.
Third behind ill-fated stablemate Fayonagh in last season's Champion I.N.H. Flat Race at Punchestown, Gordon Elliott's Poli Roi was odds-on for his hurdling debut at Galway last month, but had to make do with the runner-up spot.
He was the 1/4 favourite to go one better in County Antrim and did so by three and a quarter lengths.
Elliott's assistant, Davy Condon, said: "Davy was delighted with him and said he jumped those hurdles a lot better than the EasyFix hurdles the last day. The last day he got a bit tired, but today he was spot on and jumped a lot better.
"He's definitely a horse to look forward to for the winter. He'll be a lovely staying horse over hurdles, but his future is obviously over fences as he's a big horse."
Poli Roi initiated a treble on the card for Elliott and owners Gigginstown House Stud.
Tombstone (11/8 favourite) opened his account over fences in the Porter & Co. Beginners Chase under Jack Kennedy, although it would have been close had Gilt Shadow not suffered a fatal fall at the final obstacle.
Patrick Mullins steered 4/9 favourite Felix Desjy to victory in the concluding bumper.
Condon added: "Tombstone obviously learned a lot from his first run in Fairyhouse and Jack said he jumped great barring the second-last.
"The softer the ground the better as he doesn't like it too good, it was nearly a bit too good the last day in Fairyhouse.
"Felix Desjy is very smart and he's learning the whole time. He's not a slow horse at all and Patrick said we could win another bumper if we want to.
"He's only four and is one for the future, so he's not one to do too much with this year."
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