Five Barry Connell horses to watch - 'We still haven't seen the best of him.' Owner/trainer Barry Connell has enjoyed a real resurgence in recent seasons and now has some top National Hunt performers on his books. The south Dublin born stockbroker turned owner, jockey and now trainer is a multi-millionaire with a passion for racing. He has created his own boutique state-of-the-art training complex in Nurney, Co Kildare from where he manages his team of horses while also continuing to play the stock markets. Connell never even sat on a horse until beyond his 30 th birthday but he would ride over 30 winners that he owned and now he's taking on some of the powerhouse trainers in Britain and Ireland with a small but talented squad. Here's five horses from the Connell operation that are worth following closely this season. Marine Nationale The headline act and undoubted stable star. Marine Nationale already has two Cheltenham Festival wins on his CV from two trips to the Cotswolds. He famously won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in 2023 under the late Michael O'Sullivan, and last March he added a poignant Queen Mother Champion Chase win in a wide-margin success under Sean Flanagan just weeks after his former riders' tragic passing. Marine Nationale followed up with great gusto at Punchestown in April and is the top two- miler in Britain or Ireland going into this season. He looks set for a Christmas comeback at Leopardstown and his trainer is bullish about the future. "He's in a great place physically and mentally. If anything, I think that he will improve again," Connell told Racing TV. "We still haven't seen the best of him." William Munny The other success story from last season was William Munny, the Westerner gelding having bagged a Listed novice hurdle at Punchestown in February before chasing home the outstanding Kopek Des Bordes in the Supreme at Cheltenham on his fourth and final start. He sported a hood in the Cotswolds and the dual bumper winner was 'running his races back to front initially' says his trainer given his propensity for early keenness. The trainer considered sending him novice chasing this season but has opted instead to remain over hurdles, with the two-mile division looking more open than ever following a dramatic Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. Connell is never one to talk down his horses and suggested that if he went down the Arkle route successfully this season, he wouldn't want to see William Munny gunning for Marine Nationale should the latter be targeting a third Champion Chase in 2027. Eachtotheirown Another gelding by Westerner, Eachtotheirown finished second in bumpers at Navan and Fairyhouse last season. His hurdles career started at Galway in October over an extended two miles and he justified favouritism despite having to make the running himself. The Grade 2 Royal Bond was the next target and he came up short, finishing fifth as Koktail Brut obliged for Gordon Elliott. It's still early days for him and a step up in trip could be in the offing before long. Hashtag Pretender Winner of a maiden hurdle at Gowran Park in October 2024, Hashtag Pretender missed the entire second half of last season. He was back from a prolonged absence when second on his chasing debut at Killarney (2m1f, good to yielding) in a beginners' contest won by Henry de Bromhead's Downmexicoway, who has advertised that form positively since. Hashtag Pretender finished third in one outing since in the Kerrymaid Rated Novice Chase at Listowel's Harvest Festival in September — another contest that has worked out ok. The best is yet to come from him. Finest Band We finish with one for the notebook. Finest Band is a French import and his trainer suggests he has shown plenty in his homework since arriving in the spring. He is described as tall and athletic and is reported to have summered well. The Christmas Festival at Leopardstown could be a starting point. Wherever he pops up, his trainer clearly thinks there is ability.
