Connell's top novices have settled in well ahead of Festival

Barry Connell and Michael O’Sullivan warmed up for a twin assault on the Grade 1 novice hurdles at Cheltenham this week by landing the €100,000 Bar One Racing Leinster National Handicap Chase at Naas yesterday.

Marine Nationale and Good Land represent the same connections in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle respectively and have settled in well in the Cotswolds.

“They are over there and were ridden out this morning. They couldn’t be in better form and everything is a hundred per cent,” said the Nurney trainer yesterday after his latest big Naas win.

When asked about ground conditions he added, “They are having a drying day over there today. The ground doesn’t matter to Good Land but the other fella wouldn’t want it too soft.

“If it’s soft it will be English soft and it won’t be too bad.”

Marine Nationale has not been seen since winning the Grade 1 Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse in early December and is 4/1 second favourite behind Facile Vega for the Festival opener.

Good Land also recorded a top level victory last time in the Nathaniel Lacy Solicitors Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival and is a general 5/1 chance for the Ballymore on Wednesday.