Connell confirms Gwencily for Hatton's Gwencily Berbas is set to step up to Grade One level for the first time in the Bar One Racing Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse. A runaway winner on his Irish debut at the track in February, the four-year-old headed for the Cheltenham Festival as a live contender for the Fred Winter and was far from disgraced in finishing seventh. The Alan Fleming-trained youngster could not have been more impressive on his seasonal return in the Fishery Lane Hurdle at Naas earlier this month and owner Barry Connell believes his charge has earned his crack at a big prize. He said: "He was very good in Naas and hopefully he's going the right way. "We'll probably have a crack at the Hatton's Grace with him now, which is another step up. "He's a four-year-old stepping up into open company, but he's a talented horse and we'll see what he can do." Fleming and Connell have Marakoush engaged in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle on the same Fairyhouse card, but he is unlikely to take his chance. Snapped up for 185,000 euros out of John Oxx's yard, the son of Danehill Dancer was touched off on his hurdling debut at Naas at the start of the month but made no mistake at Punchestown a couple of weeks later. "I would think the Royal Bond will come too soon, so we'll probably give him a bit of time and look at Christmas or the New Year," said Connell. "I think the race he won was probably one of the better maiden hurdles run so far this season - there were plenty of fancied horses in it - so hopefully he'll do well."
