Cheltenham dream alive for McConnell

John McConnell is already looking forward to Cheltenham in March with his pair of exciting juvenile hurdlers Orgilgo Bay and Lindenhurst.

The Co. Meath handler holds the pair in high regard and victories last month at Punchestown and Gowran Park respectively have done nothing to dampen his enthusiasm.

Orgilgo Bay, a very decent sort on the Flat and second to Battle Of Marengo last year in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes, got his jumping career off to a bright start when beating subsequent Thurles winner Clarcam in convincing fashion.

McConnell intended bringing him to the Open meeting at Cheltenham last weekend but was forced to shelve those plans at the eleventh hour.

“He was entered at Cheltenham but I just felt he wasn’t quite right last week and decided not to go.

“I’ll probably leave him now until after Christmas and we might look at the Grade 3 at Punchestown in January. He didn’t jump as well as he can when he won at Punchestown as the horse in front kept putting him off. He schools electric!

“We will train him like a Triumph Hurdle horse until he shows us otherwise. We can dream for another while yet!

“We won’t over race him as I think there is plenty more to come with him on the Flat, and he could even make up into an Ebor horse.”

McConnell is also very positive about dual hurdle winner Lindenhurst, with the Fred Winter viewed as a long term target after the gelding beat Guitar Pete at Gowran Park early last month.

“We’ve given him a break and he’s just back trotting again. His form is working out really well with Guitar Pete, and we might just give him one more run and go for the Fred Winter.”