Understandable but not the choice I would have taken I don't think, as much as the lure of the CH i'm sure is strong. He would have had to have been head and shoulders above the Supreme field to show he can take the step into CH class and I just don't see it.
I think Bunk Off Early appealed when his was a considerably bigger price than Melon but i'd agree the price now shows little interest. If as expected Ruby rides Melon with it being an easy choice i'd 100% choose Melon over BOE with such little disparity between the 2 prices and Mullins comment that it would be an easy choice for Ruby to decide. He may have got his novice rides wrong through the season
(Penhill in the Royal Bond, Riven Light in the Future Champions and Saturnas in the Deloitte) but i'd trust his judgement more when it comes down to Cheltenham.
I want to back a Henderson horse purely due to his fantastic each way record over the last few festivals but nothing is standing out really. It looks like River Wylde and Beyond Conceit will both lineup? Sounds like Consul De Thaix is going Coral Cup and Charli Parcs almost certainly confirmed Triumph unless they decide to do a late switch on Defi du Seuil? Just had a look back at Henderson's stable tour in the RP back in November to see what he thought of these horses early on. Obviously a lot can happen in a season (with Jenkins his main hope out) and novices can often surprise in their development but here's what he said. River Wylde was one of his dark horses for the year:
River Wylde - Dark Horse
Always looked like he would want good ground in that he is an exceptional mover. He went to Haydock for his debut and we thought he might win but the biblical proportions of rain turned conditions very soft. He travelled like the best horse, but did not get home. He then went to Warwick and won by a huge margin and ran at Cheltenham last month, but was badly bumper and lost his chance. Now ready to start over hurdles.
Beyond Conceit
Handsome, big gelding who had some decent form as a stayer on the Flat but had a tendon problem. He has a great phsique, the size to be high class and has the temperament to go with it