Bachasson excites O'Connell family
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Connections of Bachasson are excited to see how far the talented grey can go this season.
The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old, who sports the Edward O'Connell silks made famous by Un De Sceaux, won his first four starts over hurdles in 2015 before finding only stablemate Long Dog too strong in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
He lost his way later that season and his chasing career got off to an inauspicious start when falling at Thurles last December.
However, he showed his true colours when winning at Gowran Park in February and while he has not been seen in competitive action since then, he is reported in rude health.
The owner's son Colm O'Connell told Press Association Sport: "We were half-planning to bring him to Cheltenham after he won in Gowran, but the ground dried up very quickly everywhere and we said we'd leave him alone until this season.
"He came back in a month earlier than Un De Sceaux and he'll probably be ready to run a little bit sooner.
"Un De Sceaux is box office, but Bachasson is a horse I'm really looking forward to.
"He's a small, tidy horse - you could nearly put him in the boot of your car!
"He's got Grade One form over hurdles and if he can translate that form to fences, then he should do well.
"Willie will decide where he starts off but he's entitled to go for a winners-of-one race or a Grade Three chase, something like that.
"There'll never be another Un De Sceaux, but this horse has plenty of ability and you'd hope he could take you to a Festival, which is what it's all about."
The O'Connell family have three horses in training with Mullins, with the trio completed by Chateau Conti.
The five-year-old made a successful start to his Irish career at Cork in January, but disappointed on his next three starts.
"He was very good in his maiden hurdle in Cork and lost his way a little bit after that when he stepped up into Graded company," O'Connell added.
"We'll see how he goes, but I wouldn't be throwing the towel in with him just yet.
"He's a very well-bred horse and hopefully Willie can get him back on track."
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