Marine Nationale makes a remarkable impression during her debut chase
Marine Nationale Maintains Unbeaten Record in Impressive Debut Over Fences
Marine Nationale showcased his unbeatable prowess with a near foot-perfect display on his debut over fences at Leopardstown. This six-year-old sensation, owned and trained by Barry Connell, has had an impeccable track record from the very beginning.
A force to be reckoned with, Marine Nationale triumphed in both of his bumper starts and went on to win all three hurdle races last season. His crowning achievement was a spectacular victory in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the esteemed Cheltenham Festival held in March.
This time around, facing larger obstacles for the first time after avoiding testing conditions at Navan last month, Marine Nationale started as the hot favorite at odds of 1-2 for the Paddy Power From The Horses Mouth Podcast Beginners Chase.
The race unfolded exactly as expected, with jockey Michael O’Sullivan guiding Marine Nationale confidently from start to finish. The stunning performance was exemplified by flawless jumping throughout the two-mile-one-furlong contest.
As they turned for home, it was clear that Marine National still had plenty left in the tank and effortlessly cleared each obstacle ahead. A bold leap at the final fence sealed an impressive eight-and-a-half-length victory over Firm Footings.
Paddy Power and Betfair were quick to take notice of this remarkable horse’s performance and subsequently trimmed his odds for the Arkle at Cheltenham to 4-5 from 7-4. Coral, on the other hand, offered slightly larger odds of evens.
Connell commented on this thrilling victory, saying, “I didn’t enjoy watching it at all. Last year we were underdogs, but now being favorite for the Arkle comes with its own pressures.”
He continued by praising Marine Nationale’s jumping ability, describing him as an absolute natural with a super engine. Although not fully fit yet and giving a little blow during the race, Marine Nationale proved his class on soft ground.
Looking ahead to future races, Connell revealed that Marine Nationale is set to return to Leopardstown for the Dublin Racing Festival before heading back to Cheltenham in March. With high hopes for another outstanding season, he added that “the script writes itself this year.”
This extraordinary horse has captured hearts and minds with his exceptional talent and Connell acknowledges how fortunate he is to have him in their yard. He emphasized how rare horses like Marine Nationale are – true gems among thousands.
Providing insight into preparations made after last season’s success, Connell mentioned a minor wind operation performed as well as adding a tongue strap during today’s race. These adjustments aimed at ensuring continuous improvement throughout Marine National’s career.