Paul Townend would be delighted to be reunited with Bunk Off Early in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham next month.

The son of Zebedee made an impressive start to his career over jumps for Willie Mullins when scoring at Leopardstown over the Christmas period in the hands of Ruby Walsh.

He was then stepped up to Grade 1 level for the Deloitte Novice Hurdle back at the Foxrock circuit and Townend came in for the ride as Walsh sided with the proven form of Saturnas.

However, while Saturnas disappointed, Bunk Off Early enhanced his reputation with a fantastic effort in defeat, travelling powerfully into the home straight before being caught on the run-in by another stable companion in Bacardys.

Bunk Off Early is a general 8-1 shot for the Cheltenham Festival curtain-raiser, with stable companion Melon the 7-2 favourite.

"I was very happy with Bunk Off Early. He was very keen in the early part of the race and probably did a bit too much for the two-and-a-quarter miles on slower ground," Townend said in his Racing FX blog.

"I think he'll appreciate better ground in Cheltenham and a proper gallop over two miles in the Supreme Novices'. I definitely wouldn't mind if Ruby chose Melon and I got the leg up on Bunk Off Early."