Marine Nationale on course for Champion Chase Owner/trainer Barry Connell has confirmed that his stable star Marine Nationale is firmly on course for the Cheltenham Champion Chase next month following yesterday’s second-placing in Leopardstown’s Ladbrokes Dublin Chase. Winner of the 2023 Supreme Novices Hurdle, Marine Nationale was beaten into second place by Solness on his two most recent starts - both in Leopardstown Grade 1s, and yesterday finished two lengths behind the Joseph O’Brien-trained front-runner. Connell reports “I’m thrilled with the run, and I think we’ll win in March! “Solness went some pace, and he’s battle hardened but we missed most of our novice season last year. We’re only coming and that’s just our fifth chase. His jumping was exemplary — he jumped like a buck. It was yielding ground. I wouldn’t blame the ground — I’d say it was perfect. “I’m happy there is more improvement to come, and we’ll be going there all guns blazing in March.” Quotes from Alan Magee