Barry Connell names spring comeback target for William Munny

January 20, 2026

Barry Connell has named a comeback target in the spring for sidelined stable star William Munny.

One of the most exciting novice hurdlers of last season, William Munny pushed Kopek Des Bordes all the way in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Less than two lengths separated the pair in the finish last March and as the winner was sent over fences, Connell’s son of Westerner emerged as a key player in the Champion Hurdle picture.

It’s been a turbulent start to the season for the owner-trainer in his attempt to get William Munny on the track with the gelding meeting a number of untimely setbacks along the way.

Originally due to make his open company debut in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown, he was soon ruled out with a small knock and Connell declared Christmas as a hopeful introduction.

However in early December it was revealed William Munny had pulled a muscle in his hindquarters, declared a ‘soft tissue injury’ and the Dublin Racing Festival was named as a target to get one run under his belt before Cheltenham.

Days before Christmas, Connell told the Press Association: “We’re struggling with him. He had a muscle tear in his hindquarters and it’s not healing as quickly as we would like.

“We think we’re going to struggle to get him to Cheltenham. I don’t think we’re going to get a prep run into him. He hasn’t been under a saddle for three weeks and it would be a push to get him to Cheltenham.”

The latest update came just days ago after racing at Thurles when Connell spoke to RacingTV: “William Munny is nearly sound, I’d say he’s 95% sound.

“We’ve missed six weeks but we’re hoping if everything goes to plan is we might get him back for a run at Punchestown which would be good as he wouldn’t be starting from scratch next year.

“He’ll have had a run in open company. It’s a shame to have missed this year but these things happen. It was a muscle tear, nothing structural. He’ll be 100%.”

✈️ Kopek delivers

A dream start for favourite backers – Kopek Des Bordes lands the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle for Mullins & Townend @SkyBet pic.twitter.com/lkYT5isflL

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 11, 2025

William Munny was a definite underachiever in the early part of his novice hurdling campaign, beaten on his first start on St. Stephen’s Day at Leopardstown by Workahead.

Much too keen and raw to do himself justice, he was a serious work in progress and it wouldn’t be long before he came into his own.

He was beaten again by JP McManus’ Kawaboomga at Fairyhouse a month later, plagued with jumping woes and appearing far from the finished article.

Around three weeks before Cheltenham he got off the mark in a Listed race at Punchestown, settling well and making a good shape over his flights, booking his ticket to the Festival.

He was much more at home in the Supreme with a strong pace to aim at and it brought out the best of his ability. Many had suggested that performance could be marked up too as he may have gone over the top to just get to the race.

The 156-rated hurdler has a very bright future ahead of him and should be worth waiting on.