Dual Champion Hurdle runner-up Melon (5/4 fav) got off the mark over fences with a hard-fought success in the Paddy Power Live Stream beginners’ Chase.

Only half of the eight-strong field completed, with second-favourite City Island making several errors before a bad mistake two out led to him being pulled up.

The winner, a good second to Fakir D’oudairies on his chasing debut at Navan, jumped soundly out in front but was strongly pressed by Gallant John Joe (16/1) when getting the last badly wrong.

He recovered well from that error and found plenty on the run-in for Paul Townend to beat that one by two and a quarter lengths, with Chosen Mate (11/1) a further eight and a half lengths back in third.

Winning trainer Willie Mullins said: "I was very happy with the way he jumped early on and obviously he made a mistake at the last but what particularly pleased me was the way he fought back when it looked like the game was up.

“He makes life difficult for himself but he fought back well today.

“I’d imagine the Arkle is the likely target. He could come back here for the Dublin Racing Festival and will need more experience.”

Melon was left at 14/1 for the Arkle Novice Chase at Cheltenham with Paddy Power/Betfair and BoyleSports.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee