McConnell mulls over options for Intense Approach John McConnell is keeping his options open with Intense Approach who skips the Listed novice hurdle at Punchestown that he held an entry for today. "We are not sure what we are going to do. It is tempting to keep him as a novice next year, that's why we entered him in good races so to speak," McConnell said. "The (Grade 2) Dovecote in Kempton is a possibility or the (Grade 2) Premier Hurdle in Kelso, if we want to go to Cheltenham. "He wasn't right the day he ran in Wexford and his work has been very good. "He has got a lot of ability, but the plans are still up in the air over whether we will keep him a novice next year. "There's still a lot of fun to be had with him." Intense Approach holds an entry in the Grade 1 Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He fell when favourite for a maiden hurdle at Wexford in November but, prior to that, had landed two bumpers in Bellewstown and Listowel.
