Marine Nationale completes Champion Chase double at Punchestown
Fresh off a commanding victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at last month's Festival, Barry Connell's star horse was the 2-1 second favourite to emerge victorious in an intriguing face-off with the exceptional Ryanair Chase winner Fact To File (11-10).
While the latter seemed to struggle to keep pace with the swift tempo set by Solness from early on over an extended two miles, Marine Nationale maintained a strong performance throughout under Sean Flanagan. However, the race appeared uncertain until El Fabiolo experienced his third fall in his last four starts just two fences from the finish line
Marine Nationale was in full command from that point and quickened up smartly from the final obstacle to pull seven lengths clear of Captain Guinness, with Solness third and Fact To File a bitterly disappointing last of four finishers.
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