Marine Nationale backs up Queen Mother win in Champion Chase The Barry Connell trained Marine Nationale proved himself to be the best two-mile chaser in training when backing up his Cheltenham success with an impressive display in the Grade 1 William Hill Champion Chase. Sent off 2/1, in a race that was billed as a match with Ryanair victor Fact To File, that head-to-head never materialised as the latter failed to give his running. Turning for home with two to jump, Marine Nationale stalked the leaders under Sean Flanagan, as Solness held a slender lead over Captain Guinness and El Fabiolo. The latter named looked to be traveling the best of that trio when exiting at the second last fence. Marine Nationale came through going strongly to head Captain Guinness on the run to the final obstacle before stretching clear for an easy seven-length win. Barry Connell said: “We missed a lot of our novice season last year so it was a slow build, and I felt the horse had improved every run and had improved again from Cheltenham and we were proved right. “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 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’s only eight and that’s his 12th run — he has no mileage on the clock, and he grows an extra leg in Cheltenham. “He’s so laidback, 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. Garrett (Cotter) rides him every day, Mandy looks after him — it’s just a great success for Kildare as there are not too many National Hunt horses trained in Kildare anymore. “We only have 13 or 14 horses riding out and we are able to punch at the highest level if we get the ammunition. “This is the horse of a lifetime and we are going to mind him and you’ll see him back in Cheltenham next year and he won’t be 10/1 like he was this morning!” Paddy Power and Betfair - 4/1 (from 8/1) for 2026 Champion Chase Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
