Cheltenham Festival – Melon heads 22 entries for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle for trainer Willie Mullins
The talking horse of the past few months, Melon lived up to those expectations when making a winning debut with a smooth success at Leopardstown at the weekend
WILLIE MULLINS is responsible for 22 of the 83 entries for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Ireland's champion trainer has won three of the last four renewals of the traditional Festival curtain-raiser with Champagne Fever, Vautour and Douvan.
Mullins also saddled last year's favourite Min, but he could only manage second to the Nicky Henderson-trained Altior.
This year's Closutton team is headed by Melon, who justified the hype with an impressive hurdling debut at Leopardstown last weekend to move to the head of the betting.
Other possible runners for Mullins include unbeaten mare Airlie Beach, Future Champion Novice Hurdle winner Saturnas, Bunk Off Early, Chateau Conti and Cilaos Emery.
Heading the home team is David Pipe's Moon Racer. The eight-year-old won the Champion Bumper two years ago and is two from two over hurdles, most recently landing a Supreme Trial over the course and distance at Cheltenham in November.
Henderson's eight contenders include the JP McManus-owned pair of Charli Parcs and Consul De Thaix, as well as Beyond Conceit and River Wylde.
Henderson's former assistant Ben Pauling is set to have his first Supreme Novices' Hurdle runner in High Bridge.
The six-year-old finished sixth in the 2016 Champion Bumper for the now-retired trainer John Ferguson and is unbeaten in two starts for his new stable.
Pauling said: "High Bridge is in fantastic form at the moment. All being well, he will go to Newbury on February 11, and providing he comes through that with flying colours, will head to Cheltenham.
"He has entries in the Supreme and the Neptune, but at this stage I would say the Supreme is more likely.
"He doesn't look short of speed for two miles."
Harry Fry's Neon Wolf and the Colin Tizzard-trained Finian's Oscar are also in the mix for the Supreme.
