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Sweet victory for Melon enhances his Champion Hurdle credentials
We might be some way off calling him a potential Champion Hurdle horse, but last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle runner-up Melon started on the right path as he produced a fine performance to land the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle, the feature on day one of the Down Royal festival of racing.
The gap he still has to bridge is highlighted by the fact that two of his closest pursuers here were his Willie Mullins-trained stablemate Coquin Mans, a summer novice with two wins over three miles, and decent handicapper Wakea.
However, the manner in which he beat them impressed, particularly the way he picked up to close the gap on the Paul Townend-ridden runner-up between the final two flights.
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