Marine Nationale on course for Fortria return despite softening ground
FESTIVAL FEVER: Seán Flanagan celebrates ater riding Marine Nationale to victory in the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Picture: Tom Maher/Inpho
Barry Connell is well aware that conditions will not be perfect for Marine Nationale if he makes his seasonal reappearance in the Bar One Racing Fortria Chase at Navan on Saturday, but he is keen to get his champion started.
The eight-year-old landed his second win at the Cheltenham Festival when strolling away with the Queen Mother Champion Chase in March and followed that up with an easy victory at Punchestown.
That left no doubt that he was leader of the division and Connell has had the Fortria picked out as his starting point for some time, but heavy rain in Ireland early in the week has now turned the ground testing.
"I was on the Curragh this morning and it was hammering down but the worst of it is due to go through today and the going at Navan is soft to heavy," said Connell on Tuesday.
"The one good thing is that it is the first chase of the whole season at Navan so it will be completely fresh ground, it would be a different matter in January or February.
"We're very keen to run, we're all systems go really, and the forecast is suggesting it will dry out by the end of the week.
"It's not ideal but I think he'll go on any ground. He's such a light-actioned horse that heavy ground isn't ideal. But he's in great form.
"He's a speed horse and no real speed horse is at their best in heavy ground. He did win the Royal Bond on soft ground when it rained on the morning of the race and he got through it. What he wouldn't like is tacky ground but with it being fresh it shouldn't be.
"If the forecast is right and it's not as wet towards the end of the week I'd say we're almost certain to run."
Meanwhile, Connell's William Munny will miss his intended clash with State Man in the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle due to a minor injury.
The Supreme Novices' Hurdle runner-up looked to be a genuine contender up against Willie Mullins' multiple Grade One winner.
While he will not get the chance to test himself against the best just yet, Connell is confident that by Leopardstown at Christmas he will be fit and firing.
"He's had a bit of a setback and with the race barely 10 days away he won't make it — but we'll have him back for Christmas," said Connell.
"We've kept him hurdling because our thinking was it's quite an open picture this year, the Champion Hurdle, and he's a very good jumper of a hurdle, very slick.
"In his early days he was too keen because they weren't going quick enough for him, but when he ran at Punchestown and in the Supreme in better races where they went a proper gallop he settled away and his jumping was excellent.
"The New Lion is favourite for the Champion Hurdle and he's only rated 3lb higher than us and is coming back in trip, two Grade One winners came out of the Supreme after it in Salvator Mundi and Irancy.
"I think it's probably the right way to go. We haven't done much jumping over fences with him but I don't think that would be an issue either.
"It's just unfortunate that we aren't able to get the prep run in but he's still got the rest of the season so it will be fine."
