John McConnell© Photo Healy Racing
John McConnell's Jackpot De Choisel is on a fact-finding mission in the Grade 2 Johnstown Novice Hurdle at Naas.
The four-year-old gelding hacked up by 32 lengths in a juvenile hurdle in Ayr at the start of the month and McConnell has identified a couple of possible Cheltenham targets.
The trainer said: "It is really to see if we have any right to go to Cheltenham - whether that is the Boodles or the Triumph.
"It is a good race and he is a nice horse. He's a horse for the future really but, if he ran well, we would definitely consider going over.
"He would have to perform with some credit to warrant going over (to Cheltenham). He's a fabulous jumper and galloper.
"The better the ground, the better for him. It will probably be better now than it was in Ayr. We brought him away for a school in the Curragh and the ground was pretty quick and he loved it."
Grade 2 mares' bumper winner Lily Du Berlais makes her debut over flights in this fascinating six-runner contest.
Hat-trick-seeking Corbetts Cross and recent winners Found A Fifty and Walk With Paul are also in the opposition.
