Melon trimmed for Champion Hurdle after making winning return

Melon defied his connections' doubts about him making a winning reappearance by landing the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle in convincing style under Ruby Walsh, leading home a Willie Mullins one-two with Coquin Mans sticking on gamely to hold second.

The unexposed five-year-old, who had finished second in his last two starts, was said to have needed the run before the off by Patrick Mullins but, after travelling well in third place from the outset, Walsh pulled out the talented hurdler to pounce at the final flight.

Walsh said: "I think he's strengthened up considerably – he was only a frame of a horse last year which is why we got so few runs into him. He's improving with age, which he has to do, but it's a good starting point.

"He quickened up well. Paul Townend on Coquin Mans tried to stretch me at the top of the hill but he closed them down quickly and he was good from the last home. He could get 2m4f but I don't think he'll have to."

Supported into 2-5 from 4-9 before the off, Melon, who is set to tackle all the top-grade contests over 2m this season, looked firmly in control from an early stage but there was a brief worry at the last when he stepped at the flight, making Walsh unbalanced.

However, he picked up his feet while Walsh regained the reins and cleared away to win impressively by four and a half lengths.

Paddy Power were impressed enough in his performance to shorten him to 10-1 (from 12) for the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival.

Malaya makes promising start for Nicholls

Malaya proved herself a good French import for trainer Paul Nicholls when landing the Listed Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle at Wetherby with consummate ease from the front, romping home by five lengths under Sam Twiston-Davies.

The three-year-old filly, who bumped into the unbeaten Gumball on her British debut at Chepstow last month, has been highly regarded since moving to Ditcheat over the summer and followed in the footsteps of last year's big improver Cliffs Of Dover, who landed this prize last season.

Results and analysis