Connell ready to put returning Good Land back in action

Barry Connell is poised to unleash his stable stars over the festive period, with Good Land in line to step straight into Grade One company at Limerick.

The Grade One-winning novice hurdler was having his first outing for 633 days when he finished a respectable third behind Ile Atlantique on his chasing debut at Navan.

He holds an entry in the Guinness Faugheen Novice Chase and if the ground is soft enough he is likely to take his chance.

"He's fine and he’s come out of the race well. It was a great run," said Connell.

"It was quite a deep race, it rode more like a graded race than a beginners’ chase so we were quite happy.

"It’s a bit ground dependent with him given he’s had a history of leg trouble, he needs a bit of soft ground so that will depend on where we go next.

"He has an entry in the Grade One at Limerick over two-three. We don’t want to be going over three miles with him at Leopardstown. There’s a possibility we could go to the Grade One.

"Other than that there is a beginners’ on New Year’s Day at Fairyhouse, but they had to put a lot of water on there ahead of the Drinmore meeting and the weather forecast for the next week or 10 days is dry.

"He was off for two years, won a bumper at Wexford and then his maiden hurdle and a Grade One after that so I’m not really a believer in the bounce factor, I don’t think.

"If the ground is appropriate we’ll probably let him take his chance at Limerick."

William Munny, a top-class bumper horse last year, is set to make his hurdling debut.

"The plan with William Munny is to run him in the maiden hurdle at Leopardstown on the 26th (of December)," said Connell.

"I’d say it could be pretty strong this year because it’s been so dry and a lot of horses haven’t been out yet. In other years