Encanto Bruno and Ben Harvey win the Bar One Racing Maiden Hurdle at Bellewstown. © Photo Healy Racing
Trainer John McConnell has been outlining plans for recent impressive Bellewstown winners Encanto Bruno and Intense Approach.
The former, who won his sole point-to-point start and first two bumpers, before finishing mid division in the Cheltenham bumper, made a highly satisfactory beginning to his hurdling career with an easy win at the County Meath venue earlier this month.
Despite the fact connections view him more as a stayer, the five-year-old had enough pace to cope with dropping back to 2m for this first venture over flights.
McConnell said of the Derek Kierans owned gelding: “Encanto Bruno could go to Galway but I’d say he’ll end up in Cheltenham in October. He's not a winter heavy- ground Navan horse. He'll have a little break and hopefully come back for the festivals if he is good enough. You would be hopeful (he is good enough)."
Meanwhile, Intsense Approach, who easily justified odds-on favouritism when making all to win his bumper at the same Bellewstown meeting, also has Galway on his agenda.
“Intense Approach won at Bellewstown recently and he might go for a winners bumper in Galway," added McConnell.
"He's a good horse, he did (come with a good price tag) and was very highly recommended by Warren Ewing. Anything he is doing now is only a bonus - when he matures and goes jumping, he should be another nice one.
