Mullins ready to use his Melon as he keeps star hurdler over small fences

WILLIE MULLINS could let Melon kick off his campaign in the WKD Hurdle at Down Royal on November 3. Runner-up in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown in the spring, the five-year-old features prominently in ante-post lists for the Arkle Trophy, but is set to remain over the smaller obstacles. Speaking in an At The Races stable tour, Mullins (right) said: ‘I think he’ll stick to hurdling this season and he could well start off in the Grade Two hurdle at Down Royal. ‘I wouldn’t be worried about stepping him up to two and a half miles if the right race presented itself for him. ‘I’d be hoping he can make the jump he needs to make to be competitive in open Grade One company as he has very few miles on the clock over hurdles and really should be open to improvement.’ Another Mullins inmate who is set to stay over hurdles is Cilaos Emery, who caused a minor upset when he defeated Melon at Punchestown. ‘He’s a nice type that will always like a dig in the ground,’ the County Carlow handler said. ‘We haven’t made any final decisions yet, but I think we are going to stay hurdling with him. He’ll probably stick to trips around two miles.’ Elsewhere, Brian Ellison is looking forward to Ravenhill Road’s imminent hurdling debut. Unbeaten in a point-to-point and two bumpers, he was forced to miss the spring festivals with a minor problem. Ellison told Racing UK: ‘He’s ready to run. We had him in at Carlisle on Thursday but I didn’t want to risk him on really soft ground. ‘It was just a slight problem with a hock that kept him off. ‘He’s a lovely-moving horse so he won’t want it too deep but he’s got entries next week and I’m dying to run him. He’s one of the best I’ve ever had.’