BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)

MARINE Nationale saved the performance of his career once again for the Cheltenham Festival, taking full advantage of Quilixios’ late exit and Jonbon’s shuddering error five fences from home to run out an emphatic 18-length winner.

This was the most complete display we’ve seen from Barry Connell’s pride and joy over fences, and it came against the emotional backdrop of Michael O’Sullivan’s passing just weeks before this year’s meeting. The horse and jockey combination had been a potent force together in the 2023 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Sean Flanagan, showing great composure to bounce back from nearly looking like taking the wrong course on Vanillier in the Cross Country just 40 minutes earlier, confidently delivered the strong traveller to a most ready victory at odds of 5/1.

Quilixios, trying to become the latest Henry de Bromhead special in the Champion Chase, was under pressure but might still have had some fight in him at the time of his last-fence fall. To his immense credit, Jonbon battled up the hill to pass last year’s winner Captain Guinness for a remote second.

“It’s hugely emotional for a lot of reasons,” said Flanagan. “First and foremost, Michael’s family obviously have to find it very hard. All the jockeys in Ireland, the UK and in the world have been under a cloud for the last couple of weeks.

“I’m only the man that steered him round today, Michael is the man who made him what he is. He will never be forgotten for that.

Pressure mount

“I suppose there was a certain amount of pressure with him because of everything involved with him. I spoke to Michael plenty about him before I started riding him. His girlfriend Charlotte [Giles] is an inspiration, and she is here today, and she has been so tough and all the family have. He has gone and done it well and he is trying to make him proud.”

Connell was overjoyed to see his stable star put it all together for a first win in open Grade 1 company.

“I think the horse hasn’t got his credit since he won the Supreme Novices’, and people forget that he only had two runs last year so he’s effectively a novice this year, and we were having to plan a campaign to gradually get him his experience,” said the winning trainer, dedicating the win to his former stable jockey.

On a Festival week that has defied description on several occasions, nobody could have summed the moment up any better than Michael’s partner Charlotte.

“Michael loved the horse very much, they started their careers together and went on a journey together,” she said, having been welcomed into the winner’s enclosure with Connell and his team afterwards.

“The horse has certainly put his heart and soul into today and it means a lot. At the last jump, I kind of got a bit of a fright, but Michael was certainly with him every step of the way and it was incredible to watch it.

“I think the horse has shown what a connection he had with Michael, they understood each other and Michael always rated the horse so highly.

“In moments like this, we get a great sense that he is here with us. I think it’s moments like this that show he is here with us and he’ll always be there.”

Hear hear.

Beaten reaction

Nico de Boinville, rider of Jonbon (second)

“We were stood up against the tape and the tape pinged back and went under his nose. It just startled him for a moment then you are on the back foot and they have gone hard. I would say there was a stride there [at five out], but I think he might have lost his sight slightly and he decided to chip in and didn’t think it was there. Then you are just trying to do what you can. He is some horse to manage to finish where he did.”

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of the Quilixios (fell) and Captain

Guinness (third)

“I was delighted with Captain Guinness. He has run an absolute blinder. He is such a warrior and it was brilliant to see. He has had a disappointing season, but it was brilliant seeing him coming back to himself there. Who knows what would have happened if Quilixios hadn’t fallen. He was running a cracker and he jumped brilliantly until then, but unfortunately that is the way it goes sometimes. We will see what we do with him, but he could go to Punchestown.”