John McConnell had a timely Dundalk winner today ahead of a big day for the trainer tomorrow, as Hasten Slowly (10/1) overcame traffic to win the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap (div I) under his son jockey Cillian McConnell.

McConnell's Stamullen yard had been out of sorts and while Hasten Slowly appeared likely to add to a losing run stretching to October 11, eventually overcame two checks in the home straight to win in a three-way finish.

McConnell's Mahler Mission, an unfortunate Cheltenham loser in March, is an 8/1 chance for tomorrow's Newbury's Coral Gold Cup (formerly the 'Hennessy') and at Dundalk he reported "Hasten Slowly was good and gutsy and I thought Cillian didn't panic.

“It was getting very tight down the stands' side and he didn't unbalance her using the whip. She was very genuine and it was a good partnership. We were unlucky with her the last day when she literally bumped into one (the wayward winner Limestone Red).

“The handicapper can't put her up too much for that and looking at that, she'd nearly stay 1m4f as she's very relaxed. That gives us another option."

Quotes from Michael Graham