Few stages in sport can stir the soul like the Cheltenham Festival and emotion washed over Prestbury Park once more following Marine Nationale’s poignant victory in the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase.
It is two years since Barry Connell’s stable star roared up the famous hill to claim the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle under one of the rising stars of the weighing room in Michael O’Sullivan, whose tragic death just a few short weeks ago rocked the sport to its core.
O’Sullivan’s memory was honoured with the curtain-raising Supreme carrying his name on Tuesday – and little over 24 hours later, the horse who defined his brilliant if all too brief career rediscovered his very best to put his name on the roll of honour for one of National Hunt racing’s most coveted prizes.
Marine Nationale missed last year’s Festival due to injury and had struggled to rediscover his very best form since, but owner-trainer Connell remained adamant his pride and joy was heading in the right direction following successive placed finishes in Grade Ones at Leopardstown this season.
Punters ultimately agreed, with the eight-year-old going to post as the 5-1 second-favourite in the hands of Sean Flanagan before he proved his worth with a dominant 18-length success.
Barry Connell
“We expected him to win today. He won the Supreme the way he won the race today,” said Connell.
“He was basically a novice coming into the race today. He only had two runs last year, so we had to bring him along. We started low-key in Naas and then we went to Leopardstown at Christmas and the Dublin Racing Festival and he jumped great.
“That was a savage round of jumping today and I love this race. I’ve been coming here since the 1980s and you guys will all remember Viking Flagship and Remittance Man and all those horses. It’s just the epitome of racing to me over jumps as it’s pure speed, flat out and you can’t make a mistake.
“The horses finish out the race. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to win a Gold Cup, but if I had the choice I would definitely prefer to win this race today.”
Connell was keen to dedicate the success to O’Sullivan, with his former retained rider’s girlfriend Charlotte Giles part of the pre-race preparation and the post-race celebrations.
Unbelievable Story
He added: “This place has a habit of writing the most unbelievable stories. It’s a bit like Honeysuckle (winning the Mares’ Hurdle) after Jack de Bromhead died.
“I’m stunned and it probably won’t be until later that it sinks in. I’ve been fortunate to come here and ride a couple of winners here at the November meeting and I’ve owned winners here before, but training winners is on another level altogether.
“Charlotte was helping to tack him up and we got her in the photograph. I’ve spent a good bit of time with her in the last couple of weeks, and the family as well, and any little thing we can do to help everybody involved we will do.
“It’s been a heart-wrenching time for everybody. I’m sure he would be proud.”
Marine Nationale
Giving the final word to Marine Nationale, Connell said: “He’s only eight and that’s his 11th run, so there’s no reason why he can’t come back as a nine and 10-year-old.
“It is a very lucky place for me and luck goes a long way in racing, but you need the good horses as well and he is a superstar.”
Flanagan came in for the ride earlier this season and felt he had some help in the saddle.
“I suppose a certain amount of pressure came with it because of everything else involved in it. I spoke to Michael about him before I started riding him and obviously fate was what it was, but the horse is what he is today because Michael made him what he is,” said the jockey.
“I got a little pocket down on the rail and went a little bit right all the way, but I had a clear passage and a clear round and jumped fantastic.
“I was anxious down the hill I was getting there too soon. Quilixios was carrying me well into the race and I was kind of waiting for Jonbon.
“I haven’t seen the replay so I don’t know what happened to him, but my horse has gone and done it well and I suppose he’s trying to make Michael proud.”
