An emotional Connell said: “The first thing I want to say is that we’re all thinking about Michael and his family today. This is the first winner in those colours since.
"This horse has been doing everything wrong in his hurdle races. He’s been way too keen, making mistakes and he’s still running to figures to suggest that he’s there or thereabouts winning a Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
“Today he settled away better and jumped better. He has so much natural ability this horse that he can’t understand why the riders want to take him back. He’s hardly having a blow there today, that was his last piece of work before the Supreme.
“He’s put himself right in the picture there.
“We (also) have Marine Nationale for the Champion Chase and Nine Graces for the Kim Muir. Marine Nationale came out of his last run at Leopardstown excellent. He’s improving 10lb every time he runs because he’s effectively a novice.
“I think he will step forward. He loves the spring and he’s a course and distance winner on the Old course and his temperament is bombproof. When he won the Supreme Novice it rained a lot the night before and the ground was tacky but better ground would be a help.
“I wouldn’t swap him for anything in the race, I think he’s definitely the best Irish horse going over there, whether he beats Jonbon or not is another matter but he’s in great nick."