A winner at the Cheltenham Festival last March, the Barry Connell-owned and trained gelding, the son of French Navy ran out a seven-length winner over former Cheltenham Champion Chase winner, Captain Guinness (28/1).

The Rachael Blackmore-ridden runner-up was four and a quarter lengths ahead of Solness (11/1) in third.

Marine Nationale, who won the Champion Chase at Prestbury Park in March, becomes the first horse to complete the 2025 Cheltenham-Punchestown double.

A delighted winning owner and trainer, Barry Connell, said of his winner:

“He won doing a half-speed and I think this horse has all the attributes to be a multiple Champion Chase winner going forward.

“Our target is to win three (at Cheltenham) and equal Badsworth Boy, who is the only horse in history to win three Champion Chases despite all the storied horses over the years.

“He’s only eight. That’s his 12^th run. No mileage on the clock so he can go back next year, nine and ten, and he grows an extra leg at Cheltenham. He’s just so laidback, goes through the gears, does enough, doesn’t burn any extra petrol than what he needs.”

The post Marine Nationale wins William Hill Champion Chase appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2023, when ridden by the recently deceased Michael O’Sullivan, Marine Nationale ran out an emphatic winner of the day two feature.

“I think the horse hasn’t got his credit since he won the Supreme Novices’, the winning owner/trainer said, before adding, “and people forget that he only had two runs last year so he’s effectively a novice this year, and we were having to plan a campaign to gradually get him his experience.”

“I’d like to dedicate this win to Michael and his girlfriend Charlotte”

When speaking to the media after today’s victory, Barry Connell admitted:

“Michael and I went on a journey with this horse; he rode him in all his races in his novice season over hurdles. He started as a 7lb claimer with us and we asked him to turn pro. He ended winning three Grade Ones as a claimer, leading rider on the first day, and then leading conditional. I’ve asked racing historians and I don’t think they can find anyone who did all that.

“It is a tragedy that he’s left us, but it’s a record that he can be really proud of. He’s achieved more in a lifetime than a lot of riders who have been riding a lot longer can ever achieve. So I’d like to dedicate this win to Michael and his girlfriend Charlotte, who’s here. Our hearts go out to all his friends and family and girlfriend.”

Costly mistake by Jonbon

Jonbon (5/6f), trained by Nickey Henderson for J.P. McManus made a jumping error and it took a patient Nico de Boinville time to get the race favourite back into contention.

Tried as he did, however, Marine Nationale, a son of French Navy, had flown under Flanagan, to decisively win the Grade 1 contest by 18 lengths.

Jonbon was second, with former Champion Chaser Captain Guinness (25/1) third, one and a quarter lengths behind the McManus-owned runner-up.

The post Marine Nationale lands Champion Chase appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.