IT has been a season to savour for Barry Connell already but it could well get a lot better on Easter Monday when he sends out prime contender Espanito Bello in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National.

The Dublin native reached the zenith of his short training career when his Marine Nationale took the Supreme Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham last month but two days before that Espanito Bello was a thoroughly impressive winner of the Leinster National and is 12/1 shot for €500,000 Easter Monday feature.

“I couldn’t have him in better shape,” Connell told The Irish Field. “He did his last piece of work the other day and we were happy with him.

“I know he has gone up 11lb for his win in the Leinster National but it seems like Royale Pagaille is going to be declared and that’s good for us, otherwise he’d be top-weight. The race has seemed to suit lighter weights in recent years but you often get a classy horse winning it.”

This will be Espanito Bello’s second attempt at the Irish Grand National after he finished a well beaten 18th to Freewheelin Dylan two years ago but Connell is adamant things will be different on this occasion.

“Easter was later that year and it was quick ground and I think the [likely softer] ground is going to more suitable this time around,” he said. “Going into that race, he was at the end of a long season but I think he is in better shape now - he’s been lightly raced. If runs as well as he did in Naas, he’ll be thereabouts.”

Connell also has a live chance on Sunday in the Grade B Bar One Racing Price Boosts Everyday Easter Handicap Hurdle (4.05) at Cork with the progressive L’yser.

The six-year-old recently beat the similarly progressive-looking Cadatharla at Fairyhouse and will meet that rival again.

“He has a big chance,” Connell said. “These two-and-a-half-mile races come up once every six weeks and they all turn up, it’s very competitive.

“We’re meeting Cadatharla again. We went up 9lb for the Fairyhouse win and he went up 5lb, so we’re 4lb worse off but I think our horse has improved again. He has been working well with Espanito Bello and we’re very happy with him.”