Mullins hoping Melon has enough juice to put squeeze on Cheltenham rivals

Willie Mullins will test the water with a potential Unibet Champion Hurdle candidate when he pitches in the unexposed Melon against a couple of the most reliable benchmarks in the two-mile hurdling realm at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Ireland's champion trainer, whose fit-again Faugheen is a top-priced 7-4 to regain the crown he forfeited while sidelined last spring, has indicated Melon is an intended starter in the Unibet International Hurdle.

Last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle runner-up is likely to face The New One, who has won the International three times in the last four years, as well as three-time Champion Hurdle runner-up My Tent Or Yours when Mullins attempts to snare the Grade 2 contest for the first time.

The trainer, keen to get some valuable experience into his emerging talent, also cited a lack of alternative opportunities as one of the main reasons for sending Melon across the water after the five-year-old's impressive victory in the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle at Down Royal on his seasonal reappearance last month.

Melon, a general 12-1 chance for the March showpiece, is rated 9lb inferior to The New One but will be meeting him at level weights on Saturday.

“Melon is not well treated," Mullins said. "However, we might run him for experience and to get another run at the track into him as well.”

He added: “I've always hoped he would be able to step up. It’s going to a bigger step than I'd have anticipated at this stage in his career, but we’ll balance that against the experience he'll get. The only other options for him would have been the Graded races at Christmas.”

The New One is a general 6-4 favourite to win the 2m1f contest again, with My Tent Or Yours a top-priced 7-2 on Tuesday, along with Melon.

The ground at Cheltenham was officially good to soft, soft in places on Tuesday night, but conditions are set to get softer as rising temperatures and rainfall cause the lying snow to melt.

Clerk of the course Simon Claisse, who does not believe the slight frosts forecast for the end of the week will endanger racing, said: "I keep reminding myself and others that until last Friday the ground was good."

Leading mare Limini is set to return over Christmas for MullinsCredit: Patrick McCann

The talented Limini, third in the Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, is also poised to return for Mullins soon.

“She's in good form and is working away and I hope to have her out over Christmas. There’s a mares' hurdle at Leopardstown and that would come under consideration,” he said.

Mullins has some taking entries over the weekend, including impressive maiden hurdle winner Next Destination, who is on course to run in the Grade 2 Navan Novice Hurdle on Sunday, and dual Grade 1 novice hurdle winner Bacardys, entered in a number of beginners' chases.

Gordon Elliott, who has won the Navan Novice Hurdle in recent seasons with Death Duty and the ill-fated No More Heroes, has entered the unbeaten Samcro, along with Cracking Smart and Poli Roi, but Mullins will not be running scared.

He said: “Next Destination has to go up in grade after his maiden hurdle win but the race should be ideal for him."

He added: “We've also entered Bacardys in a couple of beginners' chases but we will see how he goes during the week before making a decision as we could also wait and keep him for Christmas. He has to improve his jumping and he would need the experience.”

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