Minella Melody grinds it out in Listed hurdle

Minella Melody (4/9 fav) is one of several classy mares owned by Kenny Alexander , and the daughter of Flemensfirth took the Listed Voler La Vedette Mares’ Novice Hurdle under Robbie Power.

She was always to the fore in this almost 2m4f event, disputing with eventual runner-up Mount Ida (9/2) before edging ahead of that one on the run-in for a three quarters of a length verdict, with Ard Abhainn closing on the front pair late on to be another length and a quarter back in third.

A point-to-point winner at Boulta from the John Nallen academy, the winner landed a Gowran bumper and was then twice Graded-placed in bumpers at Aintree and Punchestown in the spring.

An easy winner of her maiden hurdle at Cork last month, she wasn’t as flashy in success here but showed a willing attitude up the home straight.

“We won which was great but she was fairly workmanlike, said winning trainer Henry de Bromhead.

“The lack of hurdles probably didn’t help.

“We might look at the 2m2f (Grade 3 Solerina Novice Hurdle) in Fairyhouse in January that Honeysuckle won last season.

“She didn’t seem to carry Robbie and he thought she might have been a little bit flat today. However, winning black type is fantastic and we’ll try the Grade 3.

“We had cotton wool in her ears the last day and again today but I’d say we’ll be pulling that out the next day.”

Betfair go 12/1 Minella Melody (from 14/1) for the Mares' Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee