Connell enthused by The Tullow Tank Leading owner Barry Connell is hopeful The Tullow Tank can make his mark at the highest level over fences this season. The seven-year-old was one of Ireland's leading novice hurdlers two years ago, winning the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse and the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown before finding only the brilliant Vautour too strong in the Deloitte. After subsequently leaving suspended trainer Philip Fenton to join the late Dessie and then his daughter Sandra Hughes, The Tullow Tank made a sparkling debut over fences at Fairyhouse before a winter spell in the wilderness, but he rounded off the campaign with a narrow defeat in the Powers Gold Cup. "He was the real deal as a novice hurdler. He won two Grade Ones and was second to Vautour in the third one," Connell told At The Races. "He had a bit of a hit-and-miss season last year. We're hoping we can get him back to as good a horse as he was as a novice hurdler. "He was beaten half a length in the Powers Gold Cup and never jumped a fence. If we can iron out those issues with him, he's very exciting. "He'll be pitching up in the better races."
