William Munny will bid to provide Barry Connell with a second victory in Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at next month’s Cheltenham Festival following a poignant success at Punchestown on Thursday.
Owner-trainer Connell landed the traditional Festival curtain-raiser with Marine Nationale two years ago, a horse ridden by the late Michael O’Sullivan, who died aged 24 on Sunday as a result of the injuries he suffered in a fall at Thurles two weeks ago.
Punchestown’s Sunday fixture was cancelled and rescheduled as a mark of respect, with O’Sullivan’s funeral taking place on Wednesday.
Carrying the Marine Nationale silks, William Munny was the 4-6 favourite in the hands of Sean Flanagan for the Madigan Group Irish EBF Sheila Bourke Novice Hurdle, having finished second to two smart performers on his first couple of runs over hurdles in Workahead and Kawaboomga.
Those who took the cramped odds will have had few concerns, with the seven-year-old travelling powerfully throughout the two-mile Listed contest before pulling 15 lengths clear under Sean Flanagan.
An emotional Connell said: “The first thing I want to say is that we’re all thinking about Michael and his family today. This is the first winner in those colours since.
“This horse has been doing everything wrong in his hurdle races. He’s been way too keen, making mistakes and he’s still running to figures to suggest that he’s there or thereabouts winning a Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
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