Connell confident William Munny can put himself in Champion Hurdle frame

Owner-trained Barry Connell feels the recent shake-up in the Champion Hurdle market justifies his decision to keep William Munny over the smaller obstacles.

Connell contemplated going chasing with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle runner-up, as his Cheltenham conqueror Kopek Des Bordes has done.

But with “question marks” over so many at the head of the betting for the Champion Hurdle, Connell decided to have a go at it, although a minor setback prevented him from taking on Lossiemouth – who is now Cheltenham favourite – in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.

“There were question marks over a number of the participants at the beginning of the season and that is probably why we went down this route,” said Connell. “We just thought there might be an opening in the division and a few had questions to answer.

“As it has turned out State Man has gone down with a leg, Constitution Hill has his issues and then you had the novices stepping up from last year and I found it hard to see the disparity between The New Lion narrowly beating The Yellow Clay in the Turners and our form in the Supreme.

“The first three at Newcastle were all rated in the 150s and finished close together, while I’d have thought The New Lion might have been further clear when he came down. Would he have won? I don’t know, but I don’t think his rating would have increased.

“Where does that leave us? The standard bearer at the moment is Lossiemouth and her best form is over two and a half, but she has run well over two miles and is entitled to be favourite. There’s now chat of Sir Gino being rerouted.

“It is wide open, we can say that, and our guy is like all the novices, he has to make the step up. It was unfortunate we had to miss the Morgiana with a minor thing, but he’s on track for Leopardstown (December Hurdle).”

He added: “Given we missed a run he might need this at Christmas, but then we’ve the Dublin Racing Festival and Cheltenham.

“I’m happy with the decision we made to stay hurdling and his form is in the book, he’s a speed horse.”