County Meath handler John McConnell is planning a double assault on the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, with Bardenstown Lad set to be joined by stablemate Mahler Mission.
Bardenstown Lad made an eye-catching return after a winter break with an impressive display in the Scottish Stayers' Hurdle at Musselburgh last weekend.
Mahler Mission, meanwhile, won the Grade 2 River Don Novices' Hurdle at Doncaster last month.
McConnell has that down as proper form for the Albert Bartlett and is happy to let them go toe-to-toe at the Festival.
He said: "We were delighted with Bardenstown Lad the other day. It was exactly what we wanted as we didn't want him to have an overly-hard race.
Good contest! Irish raider Mahler Mission wins the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett River Don Novices’ Hurdle for @james_bowen_ and @McConnellRacing at @DoncasterRaces! pic.twitter.com/qzYGGCvLsX
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) January 29, 2022
"He was on the go last summer, so we gave him a break with one eye on the Albert Bartlett and brought him back for a prep run.
"We got a nice schooling session into him and Gordon Elliott's horse that finished second (Where It All Began) is probably not a bad horse either.
"It was a good performance and I don't think we've got to the bottom of him yet - that's the exciting thing about him."
Of Mahler Mission, he added: "He'll go straight for the Albert Bartlett, too. He had a bit of a break and is back in cantering away.
"It's nice to be going there with two horses that deserve to be there."
