2025 Champion Chase hero Marine Nationale is set to return at the Punchestown Festival. The nine-year-old was absent in defence of his Cheltenham crown through injury.
It has been a frustrating season for last term’s Cheltenham and Punchestown Champion Chaser. He has twice finished second at Leopardstown, first behind Solness, second behind Majborough, in Grade 1 company. He then suffered a setback in his build-up for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
However, he is now reported to be back in good order by trainer Barry Connell. It is two weeks until the Punchestown festival gets underway, a meeting which Marine Nationale relished last season. He backed up his Cheltenham Champion Chase success with an even more authoritative victory at the County Kildare track.
That win came against an odds-on favourite in Fact To File. There will be nothing his trainer loves less than doing the same against Willie Mullins’ team this year too.
“He has won a Champion Chase this year and we won one last year” – Connell on Il Etait Temps clash
Connell is not one to mince his words when it comes to lavishing praise on his superstar. That can sometimes take the guise of criticising his opposition.
There was an element of that needle in his report of Marine Nationale’s fitness. However, there was also a tone of respect when analysing the prospect of facing Il Etait Temps, this season’s easy Champion Chase winner, at Punchestown.
“I think we beat him (Il Etait Temps) by nine lengths in the Supreme and jumping-wise I wouldn’t say he’s a better jumper than us,” Connell said to the Press Association via Racing TV. “I know he beat us in Leopardstown as a novice chaser, but we weren’t right on the day.
“We’re happy with our horse, he has won a Champion Chase this year and we won one last year, so it’ll be a good match-up.”
On Marine Nationale’s fitness, Connell is also looking on the bright side. Missing Cheltenham was a disappointment, but being able to bounce back at Punchestown would be fair compensation.
“It was just unfortunate timing with him before Cheltenham, he’s fine now. He had an away-day at Fairyhouse after the Festival and did a nice piece of work, so he’s on track.
“If you were take a positive out of missing Cheltenham I suppose it’s that he goes to Punchestown fresh. He runs well fresh and has won after big breaks before, so it’s not going to be an issue.”