LOVE ME TENDER SENDS SUPREME WARNING AS THE MOURNE RAMBLER SCRAPES HOME AT NAAS

Willie Mullins unveiled a new Cheltenham Festival contender at Naas on Sunday as Love Me Tender romped home by 15 lengths in the Overlander Fishery Lane Novice Hurdle, a performance that has taken him to the head of the ante-post market for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

The four-year-old, a 1-2 favourite under Paul Townend, was held up at the rear of the four-runner field before travelling strongly into the lead and drawing right away. Bartholomew took second at 9-2, with Golden Handshake third at 14-1. The winning time of 3m 50.30s was almost five seconds quicker than the course average over two miles.

It was a second wide-margin victory over hurdles for the German-bred gelding, who opened his account in a maiden at Listowel in September.

"He looks to have a serious engine," Mullins told the Racing Post, though the champion trainer also made clear his novice still has plenty to learn about jumping. Mullins added that he is more likely to look at a Christmas engagement than the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle later this month.

MOURNE RAMBLER MADE TO WORK ON HURDLING BOW

Earlier on the card, Cheltenham Champion Bumper winner The Mourne Rambler had to dig deep on his first start over hurdles, justifying 1-4 favouritism by just half a length from Whisky Lads in the Cavan Developments Maiden Hurdle.

Trained by Noel Meade and ridden by Sam Ewing, the five-year-old was under pressure in second when he made a mistake at the last, but he rallied to get up close home, with 33-1 outsider Ignite The Moment only a head further back in third.

"When you have a lad like that it's always a bit of a worry," Meade said of his charge's return to action, adding that Ewing had found the gelding lazy until asked for his effort.

Meade told the Racing Post that the Royal Bond will not feature in the five-year-old's plans, with a step up in trip and the Turners Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival the aim instead.