McConnell planning Grade One examination for Heads Up

John McConnell is considering the Grade One options for his smart novice hurdler Heads Up.

The five-year-old finished second to Bambino Fever in the Champion Bumper in March and made a winning hurdling debut at Listowel in September.

He then bumped into Paul Nicholls’ exciting No Drama This End at Cheltenham and now has Naas’ Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle among his options, along with the Formby at Aintree or the Challow at Newbury.

“Naas is definitely a possibility for Heads Up. His next run will definitely be in a Grade One and we have three options – the Formby or the Challow in England, or this race at Naas,” said McConnell.

“We’ll make a decision nearer the time, but Naas is a big option for him.

“I’d say we just bumped into one of the best novices in the UK last time and we’ll do things a bit differently with our lad the next day.

“He had a nice freshen up after that run at Cheltenham and he did his first proper piece of work since then this week. I was delighted with him and he seems in great form. All his form is working out, it’s rock solid.”