2025 Champion Chase hero Marine Nationale has been ruled out of his title defence with a setback.
Barry Connell‘s charge secured an emotional success in the day two feature last season. He had been ridden to victory by the late Michael O’Sullivan in the 2023 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
After missing the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, he returned to conquer the Champion Chase field under Sean Flanagan. However, after two defeats this season, Cheltenham was the likely target for him to put it all together.
Barry Connell announced the news on Tuesday that his defence was over, though. Speaking to the Racing Post, the trainer said: “He was very sore through his neck this morning. We had the vets in this morning and they put him on pain relief medication and we’re just going to be out of time with withdrawal times.”
Dual Champion Chaser’s absence ensures first odds-on favourite
Marine Nationale was beaten 19 lengths by Majborough at the Dublin Racing Festival last month. However, after a swashbuckling display at Cheltenham a year ago, many expected him to overturn even that great a margin at Prestbury Park.
Especially, with the announcement from Cheltenham that a dry week is expected, conditions looked to be arriving perfectly for the nine-year-old. However, his neck issue will now put paid to a repeat attempt.
Connections will be hoping his injury will be sorted in advance of the Punchestown Festival. Connell bemoaned the yard’s luck, but is optimistic about later spring prospects.
“We think he might have been cast,” Connell added. “It’s just one week out of the 52 of the year he’s not sound – it’s horrendous luck. Hopefully we have him back for Punchestown.”
In the meantime, it ensures that the Cheltenham Festival has its first definitive odds-on favourite a week out from the meeting’s opening.
Majborough is now shorter than Evens in most places for the Champion Chase. Willie Mullins’ charge was a beaten odds-on shot in last year’s Arkle behind Jango Baie. Jumping has not always been his strong point.
That said, it all came together at Leopardstown last month. A strapping, galloping horse, Majborough comfortably dealt best with heavy ground to run away a convincing winner of the Dublin Chase.
Plenty will now be expecting Cheltenham redemption for the six-year-old, owned by JP McManus. He now owns the ante-post favourite for the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Ryanair Chase and Gold Cup.