'Horse of a lifetime' Marine Nationale scores with a swagger in Champion Chase
"I felt the horse had improved with every run and had improved again from Cheltenham - and we were proved right," said winning trainer Barry Connell about Marine Nationale. Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
The specialist nature of two-mile chasing was reiterated on Tuesday evening when the last two winners of the Champion Chase at Cheltenham filled the first two places in the Grade One William Hill Champion Chase at Punchestown.
In truth, it was a masterful performance from the reigning champ, the Barry Connell-trained and Sean Flanagan-ridden Marine Nationale, as he was able to travel behind the blistering early speed and then quicken up to challenge before putting the race to bed.
On a day that reminded all racing fans of just what a puzzle end-of-season action can be, it was a refreshing departure from the upsets of the afternoon as the eight-year-old scored with a swagger.
El Fabiolo had travelled strongly and still held every chance until taking a crashing fall at the second-last, but it was at that point that Marine Nationale had just come back on the bridle and looked to be making a move to win his race.
With that one’s departure, he was left to battle with 2024 Champion Chaser Captain Guinness and the speedy Solness, and yet the relatively fresh Marine Nationale quickened away in tremendous fashion to win by seven lengths from Captain Guinness, with Solness in third.
The anticipated battle with Fact To File never materialised as the Ryanair Chase winner struggled to stay with the leaders as they raced beyond halfway and had to settle for a disappointing fourth-place finish.
“You can only beat what’s there on the day to be beaten, and he’s beaten them well,” said Flanagan. “I gave him a nudge going down to the second-last and he’s winged it and just completely come alive, and I’ve gone away to the last on the bridle. It generally only happens on horses like him.
“He is the reigning Champion Chaser for now, and we’re going to enjoy that. I’m just delighted to be a small part of it.
“Barry holds the horse in such high regard. As he says, he’s the horse of a lifetime. I’ve ridden a lot of horses through the years, and I’ve never ridden anything like him.
“I’ve said several times before, I’m riding 20 years and people say, ‘why do you still get out of bed and go every day?’ and that’s why. You’re looking for one, just one like him, and I think we’ve found one.
“It’s a big credit to Barry. He knows this horse like the back of his hand, and he was adamant he had improved him. Even from my angle, from riding him, I thought he stepped up massively from Christmas to the DRF, and again to Cheltenham. And they told me there was more in the locker for him to step up again, and I think he’s done it.”
Connell, who is an open book when it comes to his horses, was emotional when achieving the lifetime ambition of winning a Champion Chase at Cheltenham and buoyed by this success, is already dreaming of more.
“We’re thrilled. This is the horse of a lifetime,” he beamed. “Our target is to win three and equal Badsworth Boy, who is the only horse in history to win three Champion Chases despite all of the storied horses over the years.
“He won doing a half-speed and I think this horse has all the attributes to be a multiple Champion Chase winner.
“He’s only eight and that’s his twelfth run. We missed a lot of our novice season last year, so it was a slow build, and I felt the horse had improved with every run and had improved again from Cheltenham - and we were proved right.
“He has no mileage on the clock, and he grows an extra leg in Cheltenham. He’s so laid back, goes through the gears and just does enough. He doesn’t burn any extra petrol than what he needs.
“He’s the most wonderful creature and everybody in the yard has had a huge part to play in this. We only have 13 or 14 horses riding out and we’re able to punch at the highest level if we get the ammunition.”
