Connell confident in Marine Nationale's chances at DRF It is all systems go for Marine Nationale at the Dublin Racing Festival (DRF) in Leopardstown according to his trainer Barry Connell. The nine-year-old gelding narrowly failed to make it three Grade One victories in a row when beaten half a length into second by Solness at Leopardstown over Christmas, and is set for another crack at the Ladbrokes Dublin Steeplechase at the start of next month. Connell reports Marine Nationale in "unbelievable form" Connell told Racing TV: “He’s come out of the race in unbelievable form. "He was entitled to be a bit tired after the race considering the amount of ground he made up, but he ate up and did a bit of work at the Curragh on Saturday and is as good as he ever was. “The DRF is the plan and if he jumps a clear, that’s all he needs to do.” Marine Nationale finished runner-up in last year's renewal of the Ladbrokes Dublin Steeplechase when beaten two lengths by Solness.
