Marine Nationale poised for Royal Bond test Barry Connell has strong contenders in two of the three Grade 1 races on the star-studded Bar One Racing-sponsored card at Fairyhouse on December 4 including unbeaten novice hurdler Marine Nationale. The five-year-old, who won both his bumper starts in good style and readily landed the odds when switched to hurdles at Punchestown last month, will test his Grade 1 credentials in the Bar One Racing Royal Bond Hurdle. “I’ve been very happy with him since he won on his hurdling debut at Punchestown,” said Connell at the launch of the Bar One Fairyhouse Winter Festival which takes place on December 3 & 4.. “He is going to have to take the next step up the ladder now, but he is a horse that we have always held in high regard, and he deserves to take his chance in a Grade 1 race. “We weren’t surprised at how well he jumped at Punchestown. We hadn’t done much schooling with him beforehand, but Sam Curling, from whom we got him, always told us that he was a very good jumper. “Marine Nationale is all about potential at the moment, but at this stage of his career, he’s one of the most exciting horses that we have ever had.” Connell also had news on his novice chaser Enniskerry, who is two for two over fences. He said: “The plan is to run Enniskerry in the Grade 1 Bar One Racing Drinmore Chase at the Fairyhouse Winter Festival. “He’s a 133-rated hurdler, but already, after just two runs over fences, it looks like he is an even better chaser. His jumping was very good at Roscommon last time, and we’re hoping that he can go well at Fairyhouse. “He seems to be equally at home over two miles and two and a half miles.”
