Barry Connell was a proud man having watched William Munny run a huge race to be second in the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Two years ago the Connell-trained Marine Nationale famously won the Festival opener when ridden by O’Sullivan, who tragically died aged 24 last month following injuries suffered in a fall at Thurles.
Several of O’Sullivan’s family and friends were on course to witness William Munny force odds-on favourite Kopek Des Bordes to pull out all the stops before eventually going down by a length and three-quarters.
“It is very poignant with the connection with Michael. He started his career in our yard as a 7lb-claiming amateur and ended the season winning the Supreme and being leading rider after the Tuesday at the Festival,” said Connell.
“I’d only had my licence a couple of years and we went on a magical journey together. It’s very emotional today for obvious reasons – and will be again tomorrow with Marine Nationale in the Queen Mother.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to spend a good bit of time with his family and friends over the last while and the family are all here, his girlfriend is here. I think they appreciate the support they have got from the whole racing community in Ireland and in England, it’s a great consolation for them.”
Race Performance
As for the horse’s performance, Connell was thrilled and said: “He was very long at the fifth-last, the fourth-last and the third-last and he really put the whole thing together today, which he hadn’t really been doing.
“He jumped brilliant, he travelled well and it was a very deep race today. I’d say the winner is very good, so is the second and there was only a length between them at the end as they pulled well clear of the third, so I’m delighted with our guy.
“In his bumper runs he was way too keen and he was in his first two hurdle runs, so we had to change a few things and you’ve seen the end result today. It would have been nice to win, but we’re as happy as you can be without winning.
“He’s a chaser of the future. Sean (Flanagan, jockey) mentioned the Champion Hurdle, but he’s six now and I’d say he’ll be back here for the Arkle next year.
“That was a really good race, I think this was so strong, there will be buckets of winners coming out of it.
“He’s a big, scopey horse and I was surprised when he was long at those hurdles he was able to get over them like he did.
“We haven’t schooled him over fences, but we probably will before the end of the season.
“He has course and distance form here which is huge so we’ll probably go to Punchestown and gear up to come back for the Arkle.”
READ MORE: Electric performance sees Kopek Des Bordes crowned at Cheltenham Festival
