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Connell eyeing handicap pots with Land

Good Land  Good Land
© Photo Healy Racing

Barry Connell could go down the handicap route with Good Land after his next run.

The Grade 1 winning hurdler made a promising return from a lengthy absence when third to Ile Atlantique on his chase debut at Navan in December.

On his most recent outing he travelled well for a long way before being outpaced in the closing stages and finishing fourth behind Impaire Et Passe in the Grade 1 event at Limerick over Christmas.

Connell revealed that he’ll get another crack at graded company before eyeing some nice handicap prizes over a trip:-

“He will probably go to Naas later this month for a Grade 3 and will be eligible for a handicap mark after that.

 

“I’m looking at something like a Leinster National with him, but he’s definitely ground dependant — he won’t run unless the ground is very soft as he’s had that tendon injury.

 

“The race in Limerick was a bit short of two and a half miles and they went no gallop. They crawled and then sprinted which caught him out. He got going at the end.

 

“At this stage I think he probably wants three miles and a good solid gallop. His jumping is excellent, he jumps like a handicapper.

 

“William Munny will run at Fairyhouse on Saturday week in a maiden (hurdle).”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.

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