BARRY Connell’s faith in My Immortal was repaid in spades when he bounced back to winning ways in the €100,000 1xbet.ie Grand National Trial at Punchestown last Sunday.

The 10-year-old went to post a 40/1 shot in the three-mile-and-three-furlong contest, but left recent form well behind to run out a convincing winner. Finny Maguire was to the fore for most of the marathon trip and he kicked for home going to the last to record a five-length win over Uncle Pat.

“We ran him in Galway in October and it’s usually bottomless there, but I ran three horses there and they all came back jarred,” said Connell.

“I ran him back in Leopardstown and the ground was grand for horses that want good ground but he just didn’t like it, minded himself and pulled up.

“Last year, we had a couple of horses; him and Hgranca De Thaix, that were never right. The way that he’s been working at home, I was expecting a big run from him today. All we needed was the ground. He’d stay any trip.”

On future plans, Connell continued: “He might go for the Midlands National. He’s going to get 10lb for that, so that would make him 135 and he’d probably get in off bottom weight.

“We are going to run out of places for soft ground fairly soon. I might stick him in the Leinster National as well, that closes next week. He could be one for the Welsh National next year.”

A good day for Connell got even better when Ksar Fatal made a winning start for the yard in the EVAD Technology Group Maiden Hurdle.

Double up

Sean Flanagan did the steering on the 11/8 shot and led two from home in the two-mile-and-three-furlong contest. He was joined by Dani Donadoni over the final flight, but reclaimed the lead on the run-in to record a two-and-a-quarter-length success.

The winner came across his rival after the last, but the result stood after a stewards’ enquiry.

“He won well. He’s just a green horse, it’s his first time over hurdles,” said Connell. “He hasn’t run for nine months. He was working with the slow horse that won the National Trial! I don’t know what that tells you.

“He’s an exciting horse. He’ll have two more runs over hurdles this year and then we’ll go jumping a fence.

“I think what we’re looking at is the Grade 2 in Fairyhouse in seven weeks’ time. If everything went well there, he could come back to Punchestown for the two-and-a-half-mile Grade 1.”

ANOTHER to redeem himself was Heads Up in the Irish EBF Sheila Bourke Novice Hurdle.

The John McConnell-trained gelding had disappointed when boiling over at Cheltenham last month, but got back on track with a gutsy display in the listed contest.

Danny Mullins made the running on the 5/2 shot and he found plenty when tackled by Lazare De Star over the last to secure a three-parts-of-a-length victory.

“Phew! Obviously, everything went wrong the last day,” said McConnell of Darragh McDonagh’s gelding. “The frustrating thing is that he’s a very placid horse at home and is not keen or anything. All his schooling has been in behind, but if you get into a row with him, you’ll lose.

“It’s great to get him back and Danny gave him a lovely ride from the front; he didn’t set him alight too much.

“Where we go, I don’t know. There will be big decisions to be talked about but they are nice decisions. He’s in both the Supreme and the Turners.”

Cheltenham options

Cheltenham is also under consideration for Soldier In Milan following his victory in the 1xbet.ie Beginners Chase under Donagh Meyler.

Emmet Mullins’ charge made most of the running in the two-mile-and-six-furlong contest and saw off the challenge of fellow 13/8 joint favourite Kiss Will late on to secure a length-and-a-half success.

“It was a nice performance. He’s still a bit green and babyish, I suppose he hasn’t had too much racing under his belt,” said Mullins. It was nice to see when Paul (Townend) ranged up, and Donagh (Meyler) sat down on his back, that there seemed to be plenty there. Hopefully it’s onwards and upwards.

“He has an entry in the Brown Advisory and I think I’ve entered him in the two novice handicaps at Cheltenham as well, so we’ve plenty of options. We’ll mull over Cheltenham strongly.”

JIMMY Mangan is eyeing some of the spring festivals with Pure Steel after he bounced back to form in the opening Concept Colours Noel Byrne Rated Novice Chase.

The J.P. McManus-owned gelding went to post 5/6 favourite in the two-miler and it proved straightforward for the Yeats gelding. Mark Walsh led turning for home and sent his mount clear before the last for a 12-length success.

“I think he’s a nice horse. He’ll win a lot of races and he jumps well,” said Mangan. “I don’t know where we’ll go next, but hopefully Fairyhouse for the WillowWarm or back here.

“He struck the third last here the last day and they were gone then. He was a different horse today.”

Big baby

Fairyhouse could also be on the agenda for Soul Asylum after he made a winning start for Gordon Elliott in the Racing TV-sponsored bumper.

The Walk In The Park gelding made all under Harry Swan and went clear early in the straight to score by four-and-a-half lengths in the Gigginstown colours.

“He’s a nice horse, a big galloper. He’s a next year horse really,” said Elliott.

“You might see him in Fairyhouse or somewhere like that for a bumper. He wouldn’t be a horse that would be travelling to Cheltenham, he’s a big baby.”

Right direction

Tiernan Power Roche also feels there is more to come from Chase The Moon following his 33/1 win in the David Trundley Artist Novice Handicap Hurdle over two miles and six furlongs.

The Philip Rothwell-trained gelding came with a strong run to lead on the run-in and record a three-and-a-half-length win for owner David L’Estrange.

“He’s growing up the whole time. He still has a bit of growing up to do, but he’s going in the right direction,” said Power Roche.

“He likes a dig in the ground. He’s a big horse and goes through the ground well. He’s a big, raw, backward horse and he’s just taking a bit of time.”