Mahler Mission looks John McConnell's best chance of a Cheltenham Festival winner © Photo Healy Racing
Trainer John McConnell is putting the finishing touches to his small select team of runners set to represent the stable at the Cheltenham Festival next week.
Fennor Cross, a horse that has won his last two starts at the track, will be the first representative in the opening Supreme Novices Hurdle on Tuesday. The lightly raced six-year-old has been a revelation since going jumping and could easily outrun his forecast 50/1 odds.
Mahler Mission is next up in the National Hunt Chase. The seven-year-old gelding is one of the leading fancies for this race and in an interview with Racing TV, the trainer described him as his best chance of a winner at the festival.
"He is very well. I am really happy with him. His last race was something of an afterthought so I expect him to improve a lot. Johnny Barry will ride; he schooled the horse over five fences at Leopardstown on Tuesday. There are plenty nice horses in it; Willie has a hotpot but we have plenty experience, so hopefully he goes close."
Anna Bunina has been a real stable stalwart in recent times and McConnell expects a big run in the County Hurdle. "She finished fourth in one of the hottest handicaps of the year at the Dublin Racing Festival and backed that up at Punchestown last time. You don't get much better form than that. Ben(Harvey) will ride her, taking off 5lb. She is there with her chance."
Encanto Bruno is somewhat of a forgotten horse in the Festival Bumper, having been absent since winning at Cheltenham in October. However, the prospect of soft ground is a worry for McConnell: "He was very impressive last time and that form has really worked out well. I wouldn't want the ground to get too soft for him though. He will work on Saturday morning and if that goes well then we will definitely send him."
Seddon and Hereditary Rule are the stable representatives in the Plate, although the latter needs a few to come out. "Seddon was really impressive at Christmas", said McConnell. "He jumped and travelled well, although the handicapper has had his say subsequently. He was a classy horse on his day and hopefully can give a good account of himself."
Hypotenus is a possibility for the Triumph Hurdle on Friday but his participation has yet to be confirmed.
