JOHN McConnell will bid to enhance what is already by far his best National Hunt season when Mahler Mission advertises his Cheltenham Festival credentials in the Grade 2 William Hill Ten Up Novice Chase (3.40) at Navan on Sunday.

A crack at Cheltenham’s National Hunt Chase has been identified as the major spring target for McConnell’s strong-staying seven-year-old, but he must first see off the challenge of nine runners this weekend, including recent Grade 1 runner-up Churchstonewarrior.

No horse has managed to win the National Hunt Chase after contesting the Ten Up since 2005 when Another Rum, trained by Ian Duncan, caused a 40/1 upset at Cheltenham having previously finished fourth in the Navan contest. Tofino Bay (2013) was runner-up in Ten Up before his near miss when filling the same position behind Back In Focus in that year’s National Hunt Chase.

McConnell is optimistic of a big performance from Mahler Mission after delivering a highly impressive display to win by 10 lengths in a course-and-distance beginners’ chase last month.

“We couldn’t have been happier with him last time so we’ll return to the scene of the crime,” McConnell told The Irish Field.

“It’s probably a more competitive race but he’s entitled to step up in grade. We’re hopeful he’ll run a big race. He got into a very good rhythm last time. The National Hunt Chase is his target.”

Mahler Mission, owned by Colm Herron and Rockview Racing Syndicate, is already no bigger than 7/1 for the National Hunt Chase ahead of his Navan assignment.

Sunday’s race has also been a pointer to handicap targets at the Cheltenham Festival in recent years, with Road To Respect (2017) and Any Second Now (2019) both placed in the Ten Up before winning handicaps at the same year’s Festival.