Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

OWNER-TRAINER Barry Connell’s dream season reached new heights in the opening contest of the Dublin Racing Festival as Good Land made a seamless transition to Grade 1 company by plundering the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors `€50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff` Novice Hurdle.

A length-and-a-half success for the 3/1 favourite improved Connell’s strike rate on the campaign to an impressive 30% (13 from 44 runners), and means both the trainer and jockey Michael O’Sullivan have won two of the three top-level races they have contested.

A crack at the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle is now calling for the seven-year-old by sire-of-the-moment Blue Bresil, and layers reacted by cutting Good Land to between 4/1 and 6/1 for that target (from as big as 16/1).

The winner delivered a smooth round of jumping and always looked like maintaining his advantage from the staying-on Absolute Notions, representing Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell, and Sandor Clegane for Paul Nolan and Seán O’Keeffe.

Connell, who also has Royal Bond Novice Hurdle winner Marine Nationale to look forward to in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, said: “We were expecting that performance. He was around here at Christmas and never came out of a hack canter. He hasn’t missed a beat since then and we were very confident today. He’s a quick horse and we didn’t think he’d mind the [yielding] ground.

“We only gave him one entry at Cheltenham for the Ballymore because we have Marine Nationale for the Supreme. This couldn’t have gone better. He was maybe a fraction keen over the first couple but then he got a lovely lead off Nigel Twiston-Davies’ horse Weveallbeencaught.”

Maturity advantage

Connell added: “He probably hit the front plenty early and was idling in front. I think we’re still only scratching the surface with this guy. The big plus with him is that he’s a seven-year-old. We bought him as a four-year-old from one of the point-to-point guys and gave him a run in a bumper before he had a few issues.

“In terms of his attitude, he’s bombproof. You could see him walking around beforehand like he was at a kid’s gymkhana.”

O’Sullivan has excelled in his role as retained rider to Connell since taking the job while still a 7lb claimer earlier this season. His top-level victories aboard Marine Nationale and Good Land have demonstrated a significant ability to excel in big-race, high-pressure scenarios.

Connell said: “Michael is a find. He’s ice cool and a brilliant horseman. He rides all of ours and I’m delighted. It doesn’t matter if he claims or not.

“The good thing is that he’s 22, he’s not 16 or 17. He’s been [an under-21] champion point-to-point rider and he’s got his college degree now. He has maturity on his side, and that’s a big help.”