IN what looked by far the strongest event of its kind run in Ireland this season, Minella Melody staked a strong claim for Cheltenham glory in the Grade 3 Eco Friendly Cups Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle.

A second successive winner of this race for Henry de Bromhead, Rachael Blackmore and owner Kenny Alexander after the triumph of Honeysuckle 12 months ago, this six-year-old daughter of Flemensfirth produced her most complete performance to date. She faced a stiff assignment against a trio of last-time-out winners for Willie Mullins but she rose to the challenge at hand in fine style.