All you need to know as Melon bids to put squeeze on The New One and co

3.05 CheltenhamUnibet International Hurdle | Grade 2 | 4yo+ | 2m1f | ITV4/RUK

Mullins hoping for a fruitful foray with Melon

Having only raced for Willie Mullins four times, Melon is by far the least experienced horse in the line-up for a race which was last won by an Irish-trained raider in 2005, when Harchibald was successful.

However, he has been a popular ante-post selection and could well start the outright favourite to topple The New One and co.

The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old is a dual hurdles winner and was successful at Down Royal on his reappearance last month, having twice run second in Grade 1s last season, when he chased home Labaik in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Although he has plenty to find on official ratings, connections believe Melon is progressive and that he might find the necessary improvement against his more experienced rivals.

Mullins said: "On official ratings he looks to have plenty on his plate taking on The New One, My Tent Or Yours and company.

"However, we decided on Saturday’s race as the next step forward for him rather than running him in one of the Grade 1s over Christmas and as he is a young improving horse and we’re hoping that will prove an advantage."

David Mullins: will step in as both Ruby Walsh (injured) and Paul Townend (suspended) are unavailableCredit: Patrick McCann

With Ruby Walsh out of action and Paul Townend serving a whip ban imposed at Newbury two weeks ago, David Mullins, who rode Un De Sceaux to victory in the Hilly Way Chase last weekend, teams up with Melon for the first time.

Pros Although the least experienced in the line-up, he could have more scope for improvement than most of his rivals

Cons Has plenty to do on official ratings and needs to step up on previous efforts

The New One can make it four at old stomping ground

With question marks hanging over his rivals The New One certainly looks a solid choice to land yet another Unibet International Hurdle.

The remarkable 19-time winner has been a standing dish in this race in recent years, winning three of the last four renewals, including an emphatic three-and-a-half length defeat of My Tent Or Yours, with Old Guard a further 12 lengths back in third, 12 months ago.

The evergreen nine-year-old ran right up to his best under the steadier of top weight in the Greatwood Hurdle last month and, although he has to concede 6lb to My Tent Or Yours, his claims for another Grade 2 success are crystal clear.

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said: “He’s won this race three of the last four years and he comes into this renewal in great form.

“We do have to give My Tent Or Yours 6lb, which might tip the balance, but he’s got everything else in his favour and should be bang there.”

Richard Johnson had been lined up to partner the nine-year-old but Sam Twiston-Davies was passed fit to ride him on Friday for the first time this season. The trainer’s son has been in the saddle for 17 of his victories.

Pros Multiple winner of the race, has conditions to suit and wellbeing in no doubt

Cons Weight concession to My Tent Or Yours gives that rival a real chance on a strict reading of the ratings

Ratings point to admirable bridesmaid My Tent

There would be no more deserving International Hurdle winner than My Tent Or Yours, given his string of second places in Grade 1 contests at the big spring meetings, all of which show that the flame is still burning brightly despite his advancing years.

A repeat of either of his seconds to stablemate Buveur D’Air in the Champion Hurdle and then the Aintree Hurdle – where he accounted for The New One both times – would make him very hard to beat, but trainer Nicky Henderson is worried that conditions could hinder the chances of the oldest horse in the line up.

The New One and My Tent Or Yours will face each other again at Cheltenham on SaturdayCredit: Alan Crowhurst

He said of the ten-year-old: “He’s really well, we’ve got a lot of work into him, including a racecourse gallop at Newbury. We wanted to keep him and Buveur D’Air apart, so when that one went to Newcastle, this race was the obvious opening for My Tent Or Yours.

“He gets all the allowances and has a great chance on ratings but I am worried about the ground. If it gets really testing he could be in trouble. He will definitely run unless Barry [Geraghty] says it’s absolutely desperate.”

Pros Big chance on ratings getting 6lb off The New One

Cons Long time since he got his head in front and beaten fair and square in this race last year despite getting 8lb from the winner

Promising Ch'Tibello on fact-finding mission

This could be a big season for the lightly-raced Ch'Tibello, who has the potential to join the elite group of two mile hurdlers.

The Dan Skelton-trained six-year-old cashed in on favourable conditions when beating My Tent Or Yours on heavy ground at Haydock 13 months ago and bettered that when only a length off Yanworth in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton when last seen.

He was an each-way fancy for the Champion Hurdle in the wake of that decent effort at Wincanton but was withdrawn on the morning of the Cheltenham showpiece due to pus in a foot.

He is more unexposed than most having had just 11 starts and is reportedly fit and ready to go again this term, although his trainer is not sure whether he will need this first run since February.

Skelton said: “It’s really exciting to have him back on the racecourse and he’s fit and ready to roll. It’s his first time at Cheltenham but he gets 6lb off the top two so there are no excuses.

“I have him as straight as I can get him at home but he got beat on his first run back last year before winning a good race at Haydock the following month, so I’m not sure whether he’s one of those horses who needs a run to put him spot on. We’ll find out tomorrow!”

Pros Still has potential and won't mind if the ground is testing

Cons Lacks experience of Cheltenham and best form so far has come on flat tracks – has to prove he can handle the demands of this circuit

Old Guard returns having regained the winning groove

Old Guard warrants plenty of respect as as a previous winner of this race, and he comes here in good form having won a competitive handicap hurdle at Newbury on Ladbrokes Trophy day by a commanding two-and three-quarter lengths.

The 2015 winner was a general 11-1 shot on Friday, and trainer Paul Nicholls, who also saddled Zarkandar to win the race in 2012, knows his challenger has to up his game once again if he's to come out on top in this tough heat.

He said: “He’s been a real star for us, including when winning this in 2015, but he’s up to 155 now so we’ve got to go back into Graded company and this looks a competitive race.

Old Guard: returned to form at Newbury last timeCredit: Charlie Crowhurst

“He’s in great form and won’t mind which way the ground goes, but he’s got a fair bit on his plate against these.”

Pros Comes here bang in form and has won the race before

Cons Wasn’t a vintage edition of this race that he won in 2015 - this does look tougher

'He's in such good health we thought we'd let him take his chance'

Evan Williams is hardly brimming with confidence in advance of John Constable's return to the track but it's hard to knock what the Dai Walters-owned six-year-old did earlier in the year when landing two competitive handicaps, and that has earned him a crack at this sort of company.

However, conditions are a major concern for the trainer, who said: “He’s a handicapper running against seasoned conditions race horses so we know we are up against it, especially as he is much more of a spring horse.

John Constable: needs to prove he is up to this level after winning two well-contested handicaps in the springCredit: John Grossick

“It’s probably the wrong time of year for him on ground that will be softer than ideal, but he’s in such good health we thought we’d let him take his chance.”

While John Constable was available at 25-1 on Friday night, he was not the complete outsider of the field as Dell’ Arca was backable at 80-1.

Dell’ Arca won a 3m handicap hurdle at Newbury last month and although he was pulled up when last seen, that run might have come a bit too soon after his Newbury success. How he copes with this drop back to the minimum trip remains to be seen.

Trainer David Pipe said: "He’s the outsider of the field and has it to do on the ratings but he’s won round the track, he’s in good form and we thought he was a sporting bet.”

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