Tag Archive for: Barry Connell

Marine Nationale completes Champion Chase double

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Marine Nationale backed up his Cheltenham win with an impressive victory in the William Hill Champion Chase at Punchestown.

Fresh from a wide-margin success in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at last month’s Festival, Barry Connell’s stable star was the 2-1 second-favourite to come out on top in a fascinating clash with the brilliant Ryanair Chase winner Fact To File (11-10).

While the latter looked to be struggling to keep up with the strong pace being set by Solness from an early stage back over an extended two miles, Marine Nationale travelled strongly throughout under Sean Flanagan, although the race did look in the balance until El Fabiolo suffered his third fall in his last four starts two fences from home.

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.

Of the winner, Connell said: “We missed a lot of our novice season last year so it was a slow build. I felt the horse improved with every run and had improved again from Cheltenham and we were proved right.

“He won doing a half-speed and I think this horse has all the attributes to be a multiple Champion Chase winner going forward.

“Our target is to win three and equal Badsworth Boy, who is the only horse in history to win three Champion Chases, despite all of the storied horses over the years.

“He’s only eight and that’s his 12th run – he has no mileage on the clock, and he grows an extra leg in Cheltenham.”

Barry Connell celebrates at Punchestown
Barry Connell celebrates at Punchestown (Niall Carson/PA)

The trainer added: “He’s so laidback, goes through the gears and just does enough. He doesn’t burn any extra petrol than what he needs.

“He’s the most wonderful creature and everybody in the yard has had a huge part to play in this. Garrett (Cotter) rides him every day, Mandy looks after him – it’s just a great success for Kildare as there are not too many National Hunt horses trained in Kildare anymore.

“We only have 13 or 14 horses riding out and we are able to punch at the highest level if we get the ammunition.

“This is the horse of a lifetime and we are going to mind him and you’ll see him back in Cheltenham next year – and he won’t be 10-1 like he was this morning!”

Paddy Power cut Marine Nationale’s odds to retain his Queen Mother Champion Chase crown to 4-1 from 8-1.

Marine Nationale and Fact To File all set for Punchestown showdown

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Barry Connell believes Marine Nationale is closing in on being the finished article ahead of his blockbuster clash with Fact To File in the William Hill Champion Chase at Punchestown on Tuesday.

The undoubted highlight on the opening day of the festival sees the Queen Mother Champion Chase winner face off against Willie Mullins’ impressive Ryanair Chase hero.

Having missed the majority of his novice chase season, Connell, who owns and trains Marine Nationale, has been playing catch up in terms of experience, but he now appears to be reaching his peak.

“He didn’t have much of a blow after the race. I think he was the easiest winner of the whole week and he’s come out of the race in super shape,” said O’Connell, for whom the victory was an emotional one with the late Michael O’Sullivan having ridden Marine Nationale to Supreme Novices’ Hurdle glory in 2023.

Marine Nationale's Cheltenham Festival victory proved an emotional one
Marine Nationale’s Cheltenham Festival victory proved an emotional one (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“He hasn’t had an over-taxing season really. We’ve been building up to the spring festivals so we’re looking forward to him going to Punchestown. Hopefully we get the usual nice spring ground, which will suit him well.

“The big thing with him was that he came into the season basically still a novice, lacking a lot of experience, and he was being pitched in against battle-hardened chasers and it’s a difficult thing to do, particularly in the two-mile division, where jumping accuracy is so important.

“He kicked off low key in Naas. That was a big stepping stone. His two runs at Leopardstown were really good. He jumped well and as he usually does when he goes to Cheltenham, he comes alive, loves the place. It was all building towards getting the experience and fitness and everything came together at Cheltenham.

“His jumping was exemplary and it took him into the race without any great effort. And then the usual thing he does, when he jumps the last at Cheltenham, he just takes off. We couldn’t be happier with him now.”

Fact To File was impressive at Cheltenham
Fact To File was impressive at Cheltenham (Mike Egerton/PA)

Fact To File looked the real deal in the Ryanair and showed so much pace Mullins is happy to drop down to two miles with him.

It will, though, be the first time Fact To File has raced over the minimum trip since he was beaten in the Cheltenham bumper in 2023.

“It’s a bit of an unknown dropping back in trip, but Willie is happy with him and he’s in good form,” said Frank Berry, owner JP McManus’ racing manager.

“We’re looking forward to seeing him and it should be a good race. He can jump at speed and he will be taking on the Champion Chase winner and it will be a great race – we hope for the best.”

While only six go to post they also include a previous Champion Chase winner in Captain Guinness, dual Grade One scorer Solness and 2023 Arkle winner El Fabiolo.

Kopek Des Bordes is still unbeaten
Kopek Des Bordes is still unbeaten (Mike Egerton/PA)

Mullins dominates the other Grade Ones on the card. He fields four of the six in the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle, with Supreme winner Kopek Des Bordes meeting stablemate Salvator Mundi again.

In the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase, he is responsible for five of the nine.

Ballyburn, Champ Kiely, Ile Atlantique, Impaire Et Passe and Brown Advisory winner Lecky Watson come up against the Henry de Bromhead pair of Gorgeous Tom and Slade Steel. Polly Gundry’s Don’t Rightly Know is the sole UK runner in the Grade Ones on the opening day.

William Munny will now be saved for novice chasing next term

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Barry Connell already has his sights set on a novice chasing campaign with William Munny after confirming the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle runner-up will not run again this season.

Two years on from Connell winning the Cheltenham Festival curtain raiser with his new Champion Chase hero Marine Nationale, history looked like it may repeat itself as the mount of Sean Flanagan stalked Kopek Des Bordes into the home straight and had Willie Mullins’ star novice within reach at the final flight.

The seven-year-old got within two lengths of Kopek Des Bordes but was unable to reel in the heavy favourite, finishing a brave and creditable second in a race fittingly named after Connell’s former stable jockey, the late Michael O’Sullivan.

The Kildare handler feels softer ground in the future would play to his charge’s strengths and having watched him gradually improve over hurdles during the current campaign, he is relishing the prospect of sending William Munny over the larger obstacles next term and returning to Prestbury Park in the spring for a crack at the Arkle.

Connell said: “He ran a super race and I think it was one of the strongest novice races we’ve seen anywhere in the last five years, there was some real strength and depth.

“Without the winner, we would have been a very good six-length winner and he ran a brilliant race.

“He’s a horse who has been doing everything wrong and the penny only dropped for him at Punchestown three weeks before Cheltenham and he then settled well and put in a great round of jumping in the Supreme.

William Munny returns after finishing second in the Supreme
William Munny returns after finishing second in the Supreme (Adam Morgan/PA)

“He’s a horse who is much better on soft ground and it’s a pity the ground was quick on the first couple of days, they were barely making a print in it, and our guy came back quite jarred after the race.

“He definitely will be better with an ease in the ground and he definitely won’t run again this season – he’s had two runs close together and Punchestown (Festival) hardly ever comes up soft.

“The plan is to go novice chasing next season, he’s done his job over hurdles now and we’ll look forward to putting together a campaign and hopefully going back for the Arkle next year.”

Connell outlines Punchestown mission for Marine Nationale

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Punchestown is up next for Cheltenham Festival hero Marine Nationale, with trainer Barry Connell believing his stable star has the potential to become a three-time winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Only a few weeks after the death of Marine Nationale’s former jockey Michael O’Sullivan, the horse with whom he will always be linked stormed up the Cheltenham hill to pay the ultimate tribute to his former ally.

Connell feels the performance proves the eight-year-old is currently the best two-mile chaser around and after bouncing out of his Prestbury Park exertions, he is on course for a spin on home soil in the William Hill Champion Chase on April 29.

“Marine is bouncing and in great form and he’s a bombproof temperament so nothing ever phases him, that’s one of the biggest assets he has and he’s so laid back,” said Connell.

“At this moment, our intention is to go to Punchestown with him. He’s a horse who enjoys good ground and nine times out 10 you get nice ground that has been probably watered at Punchestown, so we’ll be looking forward to that.

“He’s probably a horse who hasn’t had the credit he deserves having missed a season, but we never lost faith and he’s come back better than ever. I know the favourite (Jonbon) made a mistake and people can make their own minds up, but I have no doubt in my mind we have the best two-miler in Ireland and England at the moment.”

Connell already has next year’s title defence in the back of his mind and has warned there could be even more to come as Marine Nationale gains further chasing experience.

The Kildare handler also raised the possibility of his star performer one day emulating the great Badsworth Boy, who won the Champion Chase three times in the 1980s.

Connell continued: “He’s very lightly raced over fences and only eight, that was just his sixth run over fences and I think there is plenty of improvement to come. He just comes alive at Cheltenham and for me, his performance from the back of the last fence to the line was incredible.

Marine Nationale returns after the Champion Chase
Marine Nationale returns after the Champion Chase (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I do think he has the capability of going back and winning two more Champion Chases and it hasn’t been done since Badsworth Boy in the 1980s. I was looking at the records the other day and I couldn’t believe it when you consider all the iconic horses that have run in this division.

“We will just gear his season to getting him back to Cheltenham and he’s a very athletic, light-framed horse who doesn’t take too much getting ready. Two-milers just seem to go on, the Gold Cup can be a very hard race, but he finished the Champion Chase fresh as a daisy and hardly had a blow afterwards.”

Prestbury Park was awash with emotion after Marine Nationale’s poignant victory in the Champion Chase, with stablemate William Munny finding just Kopek Des Bordes too good in the curtain-raising Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – that was fittingly named in honour of O’Sullivan.

“We knew going over we had a definite chance of winning both races and to come home having won the Queen Mother and finished second in the Supreme, I was stunned,” added Connell.

Michael O'Sullivan's girlfriend Charlotte Giles (fourth left) joined the Marine Nationale team in the winner's enclosure
Michael O’Sullivan’s girlfriend Charlotte Giles (fourth left) joined the Marine Nationale team in the winner’s enclosure (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“I couldn’t take it in and it’s been gradually dawning on me since I got home. Cheltenham at a normal meeting is a hugely emotionally charged place and this week has been off the scale given the relationship myself and Michael had.

“He was a 7lb-claiming amateur mainly riding in point-to-points and I had not long got my licence out and this magical horse landed in our stable and we went on this incredible journey together. It was phenomenal what the horse and Michael achieved together and it’s tragic what has happened.

“I spent a fair bit of time with his family and his girlfriend (Charlotte Giles) in the run-up to Cheltenham, I knew his brother (Alan) and girlfriend were going over to Cheltenham and I hope the family have taken comfort from the support they have received from the racing community and it’s just great to see Marine go and win again.”

He added: “When we were leaving the day after Marine’s win in the Champion Chase, the stable yard manager gave me one of the green plaques you get for winning one of the main three races and that will be put up on his stable.

“We got back on Friday evening and yesterday we had all the staff down in the yard. We’re a small team with not many employees, but they are world class staff and it was a joy to come back and see the people who have stayed at home during Cheltenham but have made these horses.”

Marine Nationale ensures Michael O’Sullivan’s legacy is carried forward

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Few stages in sport can stir the soul like the Cheltenham Festival and emotion washed over Prestbury Park once more following Marine Nationale’s poignant victory in the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase.

It is two years since Barry Connell’s stable star roared up the famous hill to claim the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle under one of the rising stars of the weighing room in Michael O’Sullivan, whose tragic death just a few short weeks ago rocked the sport to its core.

O’Sullivan’s memory was honoured with the curtain-raising Supreme carrying his name on Tuesday – and little over 24 hours later, the horse who defined his brilliant if all too brief career rediscovered his very best to put his name on the roll of honour for one of National Hunt racing’s most coveted prizes.

Marine Nationale missed last year’s Festival due to injury and had struggled to rediscover his very best form since, but owner-trainer Connell remained adamant his pride and joy was heading in the right direction following successive placed finishes in Grade Ones at Leopardstown this season.

Punters ultimately agreed, with the eight-year-old going to post as the 5-1 second-favourite in the hands of Sean Flanagan before he proved his worth with a dominant 18-length success.

“We expected him to win today. He won the Supreme the way he won the race today,” said Connell.

“He was basically a novice coming into the race today. He only had two runs last year, so we had to bring him along. We started low-key in Naas and then we went to Leopardstown at Christmas and the Dublin Racing Festival and he jumped great.

“That was a savage round of jumping today and I love this race. I’ve been coming here since the 1980s and you guys will all remember Viking Flagship and Remittance Man and all those horses. It’s just the epitome of racing to me over jumps as it’s pure speed, flat out and you can’t make a mistake.

“The horses finish out the race. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to win a Gold Cup, but if I had the choice I would definitely prefer to win this race today.”

Sean Flanagan celebrates winning the Champion Chase on Marine Nationale
Sean Flanagan celebrates winning the Champion Chase on Marine Nationale (David Davies/The Jockey Club)

Connell was keen to dedicate the success to O’Sullivan, with his former retained rider’s girlfriend Charlotte Giles part of the pre-race preparation and the post-race celebrations.

He added: “This place has a habit of writing the most unbelievable stories. It’s a bit like Honeysuckle (winning the Mares’ Hurdle) after Jack de Bromhead died.

“I’m stunned and it probably won’t be until later that it sinks in. I’ve been fortunate to come here and ride a couple of winners here at the November meeting and I’ve owned winners here before, but training winners is on another level altogether.

“Charlotte was helping to tack him up and we got her in the photograph. I’ve spent a good bit of time with her in the last couple of weeks, and the family as well, and any little thing we can do to help everybody involved we will do.

“It’s been a heart-wrenching time for everybody. I’m sure he would be proud.”

Barry Connell and Sean Flanagan
Barry Connell and Sean Flanagan (Mike Egerton/PA)

Giving the final word to Marine Nationale, Connell said: “He’s only eight and that’s his 11th run, so there’s no reason why he can’t come back as a nine and 10-year-old.

“It is a very lucky place for me and luck goes a long way in racing, but you need the good horses as well and he is a superstar.”

Flanagan came in for the ride earlier this season and felt he had some help in the saddle.

“I suppose a certain amount of pressure came with it because of everything else involved in it. I spoke to Michael about him before I started riding him and obviously fate was what it was, but the horse is what he is today because Michael made him what he is,” said the jockey.

“I got a little pocket down on the rail and went a little bit right all the way, but I had a clear passage and a clear round and jumped fantastic.

“I was anxious down the hill I was getting there too soon. Quilixios was carrying me well into the race and I was kind of waiting for Jonbon.

“I haven’t seen the replay so I don’t know what happened to him, but my horse has gone and done it well and I suppose he’s trying to make Michael proud.”

William Munny upholds memory of Michael O’Sullivan in fine Supreme run

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Barry Connell was a proud man having watched William Munny run a huge race to be second in the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Two years ago the Connell-trained Marine Nationale famously won the Festival opener when ridden by O’Sullivan, who tragically died aged 24 last month following injuries suffered in a fall at Thurles.

Several of O’Sullivan’s family and friends were on course to witness William Munny force odds-on favourite Kopek Des Bordes to pull out all the stops before eventually going down by a length and three-quarters.

“It is very poignant with the connection with Michael. He started his career in our yard as a 7lb-claiming amateur and ended the season winning the Supreme and being leading rider after the Tuesday at the Festival,” said Connell.

“I’d only had my licence a couple of years and we went on a magical journey together. It’s very emotional today for obvious reasons – and will be again tomorrow with Marine Nationale in the Queen Mother.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to spend a good bit of time with his family and friends over the last while and the family are all here, his girlfriend is here. I think they appreciate the support they have got from the whole racing community in Ireland and in England, it’s a great consolation for them.”

As for the horse’s performance, Connell was thrilled and said: “He was very long at the fifth-last, the fourth-last and the third-last and he really put the whole thing together today, which he hadn’t really been doing.

“He jumped brilliant, he travelled well and it was a very deep race today. I’d say the winner is very good, so is the second and there was only a length between them at the end as they pulled well clear of the third, so I’m delighted with our guy.

“In his bumper runs he was way too keen and he was in his first two hurdle runs, so we had to change a few things and you’ve seen the end result today. It would have been nice to win, but we’re as happy as you can be without winning.

“He’s a chaser of the future. Sean (Flanagan, jockey) mentioned the Champion Hurdle, but he’s six now and I’d say he’ll be back here for the Arkle next year.

“That was a really good race, I think this was so strong, there will be buckets of winners coming out of it.

“He’s a big, scopey horse and I was surprised when he was long at those hurdles he was able to get over them like he did.

“We haven’t schooled him over fences, but we probably will before the end of the season.

“He has course and distance form here which is huge so we’ll probably go to Punchestown and gear up to come back for the Arkle.”

Henderson has no Cheltenham fears for Jonbon

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Nicky Henderson is adamant Jonbon is more than capable of producing his best around Cheltenham, as his prolific Grade One winner bids for a first Festival success at the age of nine in the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday.

Jonbon has been a superstar for owner JP McManus since he parted with £570,000 for the brother to Douvan and he is a rare example in National Hunt racing of a very expensive horse looking a bargain.

He has won 17 races out of 20 under rules, with all three defeats coming at Cheltenham, albeit the first of those can be excused as he was up against Constitution Hill in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

The following year he was second in the Arkle to El Fabiolo, while he made several jolting errors when beaten narrowly in the rearranged Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham last season. There are two victories in the Shloer Chase, run at Prestbury Park, on his record though and this season he has been foot-perfect.

“We think he is exactly where he should be and he wants to be, everything has gone right,” said Henderson.

“People have doubts about him around Cheltenham, and around Sandown he is just spectacular. But left-handed, right-handed, it makes no difference and he is perfectly capable of going left and he’s won the Shloer Chase the last two years. He’s in good shape and everything has gone well.

“There will be plenty of pace, which he doesn’t mind, as long as they go a good gallop he will be happy.”

Next best in the betting is Barry Connell’s Marine Nationale, who would be a deeply emotional winner.

Two years ago jockey Michael O’Sullivan partnered him to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle for his finest hour in the saddle. O’Sullivan sadly died last month from injuries suffered in a fall at Thurles, aged just 24.

Barry Connell (left) with Michael O'Sullivan after Marine Nationale's Supreme win
Barry Connell (left) with Michael O’Sullivan after Marine Nationale’s Supreme win (Mike Egerton/PA)

“Going to Cheltenham will be a huge plus for him, as he is so placid and he handles the place really well,” said Connell.

“His work has been excellent this year and looking at the profile of all the horses in there this year, he probably has the most scope for additional improvement.

“We started him off small at Naas and he ran a nice race and then he took a huge improvement at Leopardstown at Christmas and I’d say he then improved another 10lb when second at the Dublin Racing Festival and jumped brilliantly both times.

“He’s got the right profile and has won a Grade One around there, so another 7/10lb improvement and I think he will be right there.”

Paul Townend celebrates Energumene's victory two years ago
Paul Townend celebrates Energumene’s victory two years ago (David Davies/PA)

Willie Mullins’ Energumene is a dual winner of the race but was put in his place by Jonbon in the Clarence House at Ascot.

His trainer is banking on a return to Cheltenham being in the 11-year-old’s favour, although he seems unlikely to have the ground in his favour.

“Jonbon is way better at Ascot and Energumene is better at Cheltenham, that’s my hope,” he said.

One who has emerged as a real contender this year is Joseph O’Brien’s Solness, who since making no impression behind Jonbon in the Tingle Creek has won two Grade Ones in Ireland.

“We never would have expected at the start of the season he would win two Grade Ones, but there has been gradual improvement from race to race all season,” said O’Brien.

“It was obviously a really nice performance at Christmas at Leopardstown, but then you’re never quite sure what is going to happen when it comes to backing that up.

“He did back it up at the Dublin Racing Festival and marked himself out as a serious Champion Chase competitor.”

Another previous winner is the Henry de Bromhead-trained Captain Guinness who benefited from El Fabiolo’s no-show in the race 12 months ago.

Rachael Blackmore returns victorious on Captain Guinness 12 months ago
Rachael Blackmore returns victorious on Captain Guinness 12 months ago (David Davies/PA)

“I think we all felt we saw a glimmer of hope the last day in Leopardstown, which is a place he hates. I think you’re better looking at him at the second-last than at the line and we felt he was running well until then, but that last furlong just kills him,” said De Bromhead.

“He just about gets the two miles, so we’ll have him the best that we can. Last year was incredible, he deserved it and the owners deserved it as they’re great supporters.

“He loves Cheltenham, as when he gets into jumping at speed that’s his gig.”

Connell prepared for ‘highly charged’ return to Cheltenham

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Barry Connell is predicting an emotionally charged few days, as Marine Nationale and William Munny attempt to honour the memory of the late Michael O’Sullivan at the Cheltenham Festival.

O’Sullivan suffered a fall at Thurles last month and after spending 10 days in intensive care at Cork University Hospital, it was announced he had died from his injuries at just 24 years of age

He will always be inextricably linked with both Connell and his stable star Marine Nationale, having enjoyed his finest hour aboard the horse when winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2023, a ride that received plenty of plaudits and gave a glimpse of the young jockey’s talent in the saddle.

Barry Connell (left) with Michael O’Sullivan after winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with Marine Nationale
Barry Connell (left) with Michael O’Sullivan after winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with Marine Nationale (Mike Egerton/PA)

The Supreme will this time be run in O’Sullivan’s name, with William Munny set to sport Connell’s yellow silks and dark blue sash in the Festival opener and the County Kildare handler admits it will be a different feel to usual at this year’s Festival.

“It’s been raw for the last few weeks since Michael had the incident in Thurles then sadly passed away and he had been a huge part of our operation for a couple of years,” said Connell.

“He was a 7lb-claiming amateur when he joined us and left having ridden three Grade One winners. He turned professional with us, was champion conditional and leading rider after the first day of the Cheltenham Festival – and the two of us went on an amazing journey together with Marine and Good Land.

“It’s been a massive shock and tragic and it has hit everybody. Going to Cheltenham with the Supreme being named after him and Marine also running in the Champion Chase, it’s going to be very emotional.

“At the best of times, Cheltenham is always an emotional place, but it’s going to be highly charged and I imagine it will be something like the year Jack de Bromhead died and Honeysuckle ran.

“The racing community is a small parish and everyone knows each other and the support network that has been there for the family has been fantastic. I think most of the family are going over and hopefully they can take further comfort from that – and I know they are pleased the Supreme will be run in Michael’s honour.

“We’re going there and we know it’s going to be emotional, but hopefully we will fly the flag.”

Marine Nationale will be returning to Prestbury Park for the first time since that memorable opening day of the 2023 Festival and Connell is hoping a trip back to the Cotswolds is a huge positive for his Queen Mother Champion Chase contender.

Second to Solness in Grade One events in Ireland the last twice, he is the general second-favourite to Jonbon in the Champion Chase betting, with his trainer feeling we are still to see the best of the eight-year-old over the larger obstacles.

Marine Nationale will take on Jonbon at Cheltenham
Marine Nationale will take on Jonbon at Cheltenham (Niall Carson/PA)

Connell said: “Marine Nationale is a course winner on the Old course over hurdles and that is a big plus, we know he handles the place. The ground looks like it’s going to be dry, which is a big help, and his temperament is bombproof.

“I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him over fences yet and what you have to remember is he only had two runs in our novice chasing season last year. Basically, we were coming into this season playing catch-up and he’s still only had five runs over fences, so you could say he’s still a bit of a novice, albeit a second-season novice.

“Solness, who has beaten him the last twice, has had 17 runs over fences and Marine Nationale’s profile is that he improves as the season goes on.

“If you go back and look at his runs over hurdles, he won an ordinary novice hurdle at Punchestown but then took a massive step up in the Royal Bond and then improved again to win the Supreme – and hopefully it will be the same again.”

Connell could also field Nine Graces in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase, while he has high hopes William Munny is getting the hang of hurdling at the right time to prove a fitting contender in the Festival curtain-raiser run in his former stable jockey’s name.

“He’s by Westerner and they just tend to be a bit keen, but he has an awful amount of talent,” Connell said of William Munny.

“He won his first two bumpers and then was third in the Champion Bumper at Punchestown, but again he was way too keen and the same thing happened in his first two runs over hurdles this year.

“He was just running with the choke out and not listening to the jockey and he wasn’t jumping properly and made plenty of mistakes as a result.

“The third time at Punchestown, in the Listed race, we dropped him in and he didn’t settle fully, but he was definitely more settled and it was the first time he put in a full round of jumping and he bolted up.

“I think he has the ability to be right there at the last and in contention – and after that, the best horse will win. I definitely think he will be a contender.”

William Munny puts Supreme case with poignant Punchestown success

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William Munny will bid to provide Barry Connell with a second victory in Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at next month’s Cheltenham Festival following a poignant success at Punchestown on Thursday.

Owner-trainer Connell landed the traditional Festival curtain-raiser with Marine Nationale two years ago, a horse ridden by the late Michael O’Sullivan, who died aged 24 on Sunday as a result of the injuries he suffered in a fall at Thurles two weeks ago.

Punchestown’s Sunday fixture was cancelled and rescheduled as a mark of respect, with O’Sullivan’s funeral taking place on Wednesday. A minute’s silence was held before racing got under way.

Carrying the Marine Nationale silks, William Munny was the 4-6 favourite in the hands of Sean Flanagan for the Madigan Group Irish EBF Sheila Bourke Novice Hurdle, having finished second to two smart performers on his first couple of runs over hurdles in Workahead and Kawaboomga.

Those who took the cramped odds will have had few concerns, with the seven-year-old travelling powerfully throughout the two-mile Listed contest before pulling 15 lengths clear under Sean Flanagan.

An emotional Connell said: “The first thing I want to say is that we’re all thinking about Michael and his family today. This is the first winner in those colours since.

“This horse has been doing everything wrong in his hurdle races. He’s been way too keen, making mistakes and he’s still running to figures to suggest that he’s there or thereabouts winning a Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

The late Michael O'Sullivan celebrates winning the Supreme Novices' Hurdle on Marine Nationale
The late Michael O’Sullivan celebrates winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on Marine Nationale (Mike Egerton/PA)

“Today he settled away better and jumped better. He has so much natural ability this horse that he can’t understand why the riders want to take him back.

“He’s hardly having a blow there today, that was his last piece of work before the Supreme.

“He’s put himself right in the picture there.”

Paddy Power cut William Munny’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle odds to 20-1 from 25-1 in their non-runner no bet market and he is set to be one of three Festival runners for Connell, with Marine Nationale heading back to Cheltenham for the Queen Mother Champion Chase and Nine Graces in line for a handicap outing.

“We have Marine Nationale for the Champion Chase and Nine Graces for the Kim Muir. Marine Nationale came out of his last run at Leopardstown excellent. He’s improving 10lb every time he runs because he’s effectively a novice,” Connell added.

“I think he will step forward. He loves the spring and he’s a course and distance winner on the Old course and his temperament is bombproof.

“When he won the Supreme Novice it rained a lot the night before and the ground was tacky but better ground would be a help.

“I wouldn’t swap him for anything in the race, I think he’s definitely the best Irish horse going over there, whether he beats Jonbon or not is another matter but he’s in great nick.”

Barry Connell pays tribute to ‘very special’ Michael O’Sullivan

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Barry Connell described Michael O’Sullivan as a “bright, rising star” who leaves a lasting legacy following news of his death on Sunday at the age of 24.

The Cheltenham Festival-winning rider was airlifted to hospital following a fall at Thurles on February 6 and had remained in the intensive care unit at Cork University Hospital since.

O’Sullivan hit the big time when partnering the O’Connell-trained Marine Nationale to win the 2023 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, with the pair striking up a partnership when the rider was still a claiming amateur.

Connell told the PA news agency: “He was a bright, rising star as a jockey and we were lucky to have had a very close association with him.

“Everybody in the yard is devastated. He was such a lovely personality to have around the place, he fitted in really well. He was widely liked by his colleagues and everyone who met him.

“He didn’t work full time for us, he came in three days a week and he had other connections he rode for after he turned professional, but he was a pleasure to have around the place and everyone got on really well with him.

“I think everyone in racing is stunned today and all we can do is express our sympathy to his parents, William and Bernadette, and his brother, Alan. He will be sadly missed.”

Michael O'Sullivan in the weighing room at Cheltenham
Michael O’Sullivan in the weighing room at Cheltenham (David Davies for The Jockey Club)

Connell recalled how O’Sullivan had contacted him to ride future star Marine Nationale on his bumper debut in May 2022, with the then 7lb claimer steering him to a clear-cut victory and impressing the trainer in the process.

Marine Nationale won another bumper for the pair before embarking on a dream novice hurdling season that encompassed two Grade One victories, including on the opening day of the Festival when O’Sullivan also rode the Gordon Elliott-trained Jazzy Matty to win the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle for a dream double.

Connell said: “I think in early 2022 he’d ridden one point-to-point winner for me before and we had Marine Nationale running in a bumper. We didn’t have an amateur at the time and Michael was a 7lb-claiming amateur, he rang for the ride, we said fine and he won on the horse.

“We were very impressed with him so he came into the yard and started out riding a few days a week. We quickly decided Michael’s talent was very special and he got the job full time riding for us.

Unforgettable scenes at Cheltenham after the victory of Marine Nationale
Unforgettable scenes at Cheltenham after the victory of Marine Nationale (Tim Goode/PA)

“Things happened very quickly after that, he turned professional in September. A matter of weeks after he turned pro, he rode a Grade Two winner for us on Enniskerry as a claimer and then rode Marine Nationale in the Royal Bond in December and gave him a wonderful ride.

“He had a great partnership with the horse which culminated in the Supreme Novices’ and it was fairytale stuff for both myself and Michael on a journey together with the horse.

“Despite being a claimer and having limited experience of Cheltenham, he gave the horse a masterful ride and the icing on the cake was he got a spare ride later in the day and had a double.

“The following day he was in the parade ring to ride Good Land in the other Grade One and one of the officials came out with the golden armband and gave it to me and said ‘put that on Michael’, so he was the leading rider after the first day of Cheltenham which was a remarkable achievement.”

Connell believes O’Sullivan has made a lasting impression on the sport which will not be forgotten.

He said: “I think his legacy will be that he was an inspiration to a lot of the younger lads coming behind that somebody with the talent like his can, given the opportunities, rise to the top. I think that’s a brilliant legacy for him to have.”

Connell convinced Marine Nationale is coming right for Cheltenham

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Barry Connell believes he is heading to Cheltenham with the best Irish-trained prospect of toppling Jonbon in the Queen Mother Champion Chase – despite Marine Nationale’s defeat behind Solness on Sunday.

Winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle two seasons ago, his novice chase campaign was cut short after just two runs with a tendon injury.

The eight-year-old is gradually getting back to something like his old form, though, and Connell feels his last two races at Leopardstown will stand him in great stead for the spring.

“He had to do all the donkey work really,” said Connell, referring to Marine Nationale attempting to catch runaway leader Solness.

“The winner has had 17 runs over fences, he’s a hardened handicapper who got his own way in front and, to be fair to him, he jumped really well.

“At the back of the third last, Sean (Flanagan) had a decision to make and he went after the horse in front – and when you do that, chasing down the one in front, you sometimes pay the penalty.

“The good thing was that our horse did the hard yards and even from the back of the last, he hit the line very hard. It was 12 lengths back to Gaelic Warrior and another 10 back to Quilixios, the other horse who laid up with him.

“It was a really truly run race, they were up to 34mph at a couple of stages, it was a proper-run Grade One, which is what you want.”

Having missed out on the majority of his novice season, Connell thinks Marine Nationale is still making up for lost time.

“That’s only his fifth run over fences, the ninth of his life. The big thing I took out of Christmas was his round of jumping and yesterday I thought he was even better again, he’s having a real cut now, which is what you need to do over two miles,” he said.

“He has a couple of lengths to find on the winner but going to Cheltenham, we are a course and distance winner on the Old course, we know we act on it.

“Having comprehensively beaten the other Irish horses, I know Energumene wasn’t there but all the others were, I would be confident that we’ll be going there with the best Irish challenger to take on Jonbon.

“I think we’ve every right to come forward again experience-wise and maybe we’ll get a bit of drier spring ground.

“We were thrilled with the run, he’s showed the suspensory injury is fully healed, he’s coming on nicely with each run and he’ll be perfect for Cheltenham and Punchestown, hopefully.”

Pyke seals Punchestown treble for Mullins and Townend

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Kappa Jy Pyke completed a Punchestown treble for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend with victory in the Sky Bet Acca Freeze Maiden Hurdle.

The French recruit had to make do with the silver medal when an odds-on favourite for his Irish debut at Cork last month and was an even-money shot to go one better at the second attempt.

Always up with the pace, Kappa Jy Pyke looked to have a real race on his hands on the run to the final flight, with market rival Don’tstopthemusic being produced with a well-timed challenge.

However, the latter suffered a crashing fall, leaving the Mullins runner in the clear and he had 17 lengths in hand over the eventual runner-up Brave Brigadier at the line.

Townend said: “It was a nice performance. He built on Cork well in every sense, jumping wise and the freshness was gone out of him with the benefit of the run.

“I thought he quickened up smartly down the straight. I was actually quite taken with him.

“The horse that beat us in Cork (Sky Lord) ran well in the race before (finished fourth in Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle), so the form was there if he built on it and I think he did.

“I didn’t know how the horse behind me was going but I was still picking up and I thought it would take a fair one to go by me.”

Nine Graces (centre) jumps the final fence at Punchestown
Nine Graces (centre) jumps the final fence at Punchestown (Brian Lawless/PA)

Finny Maguire steered Nine Graces to a clear-cut victory in the Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Amateur National Handicap Chase.

Barry Connell’s charge was an 11-4 chance to go one better than when second in a mares’ chase at Fairyhouse last month and was not hard pressed to score by four lengths from Prince Zaltar.

“We were kind of expecting that, she’s very fit,” said Connell.

“When she was running over hurdles, off a higher mark, three miles on soft ground was what she wanted.

“Her jumping was a revelation there, she was very quick. She’s not the biggest mare but she’s just very accurate.

“She might squeeze in, off her revised mark, into something nice – a nice staying handicap chase like the Leinster National in Naas.

“I’m delighted for Finny, who is working full time for us. He’s getting the opportunities as we’re splitting the rides between Sean (Flanagan) and himself. He’s a very good rider.”

The father-and-son team of Edward and Kieren Buckley combined to land the Sky Bet Build A Bet Beginners Chase with surprise winner Ney.

Following previous spells with Prunella Dobbs in Ireland and Danny Brooke in Britain, the seven-year-old was a 33-1 shot on his first start for new connections having been off the track since June and not run over obstacles since March 2023.

Ney and Kieren Buckley on their way to victory at Punchestown
Ney and Kieren Buckley on their way to victory at Punchestown (Brian Lawless/PA)

The seven-year-old jumped well on what was his chasing debut and was ultimately well on top as he passed the post with two and a quarter lengths in hand.

Trainer Edward Buckley said: “It’s his first run for us and it’s all down to Kieren. He said to me that the horse was going through the sales ring in Doncaster, I knew nothing about it, he said that he had won on him in Cork and he’d been in England for a while.

“I said we’d have a look at him and made a few phone calls and got a lad to have a look at him to make sure he wasn’t missing a leg or anything! I bought him online for £5,000 and the minute we got him home, I thought he was a right horse.

“He can’t half jump, he’s a big, strong lad and as brave as a lion. He won like he’d win again.”

Following a Saturday four-timer at Fairyhouse, Gavin Cromwell rounded off an excellent weekend’s work by saddling Londonofficecallin (7-1) to land the concluding Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Qualifier Handicap Hurdle.

Marine Nationale to maintain Champion Chase course

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Barry Connell remains keen to pursue the Queen Mother Champion Chase dream with Marine Nationale following his third place finish at Leopardstown on Friday.

The seven-year-old looked a superstar in the making after maintaining his unbeaten record in the 2023 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, but he has won only one of his four subsequent starts.

Marine Nationale made a fine start to his career over fences at Leopardstown last Christmas, but disappointed in the Irish Arkle and missed the remainder of the campaign.

He kicked off this season with a runner-up finish to Quilixios in a Grade Three at Naas and again had to make do with minor honours when returned to Grade One level in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase, this time picking up the bronze medal behind surprise winner Solness and the hot favourite Gaelic Warrior.

Trainer Barry Connell at Fairyhouse
Trainer Barry Connell at Fairyhouse (Brian Lawless/PA)

Owner-trainer Connell was far from disappointed with his stable star’s performance, though, and is confident he will continue to improve as the season progresses.

“Obviously he has to catch up experience-wise because he missed a good part of his season last year, but I was delighted with the way he jumped and he finished the race out great,” he said.

“He finished beside Gaelic Warrior and ran to the line and he’s improving away all the time. I’d say that will leave him spot-on for the two-mile race at the Dublin Racing Festival and then hopefully on to Cheltenham.

“There’s no doubt it was a step forward from Naas. Gaelic Warrior is the standard bearer in Ireland and we finished alongside him. Obviously we’d had a run and he hadn’t, but he had a lot more experience from last year, so I’d be confident enough going back there.

“We’re going the right way and we should be hoping for a big improvement again.”

Barry Connell lining up trio of stable stars for Christmas action

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Barry Connell is poised to unleash his stable stars over the festive period, with Good Land in line to step straight into Grade One company at Limerick.

The Grade One-winning novice hurdler was having his first outing for 633 days when he finished a respectable third behind Ile Atlantique on his chasing debut at Navan.

He holds an entry in the Guinness Faugheen Novice Chase and if the ground is soft enough he is likely to take his chance.

“He’s fine and he’s come out of the race well. It was a great run,” said Connell.

“It was quite a deep race, it rode more like a graded race than a beginners’ chase so we were quite happy.

“It’s a bit ground dependent with him given he’s had a history of leg trouble, he needs a bit of soft ground so that will depend on where we go next.

“He has an entry in the Grade One at Limerick over two-three. We don’t want to be going over three miles with him at Leopardstown. There’s a possibility we could go to the Grade One.

“Other than that there is a beginners’ on New Year’s Day at Fairyhouse, but they had to put a lot of water on there ahead of the Drinmore meeting and the weather forecast for the next week or 10 days is dry.

“He was off for two years, won a bumper at Wexford and then his maiden hurdle and a Grade One after that so I’m not really a believer in the bounce factor, I don’t think.

“If the ground is appropriate we’ll probably let him take his chance at Limerick.”

William Munny and connections at Naas
William Munny and connections at Naas (Alan Magee/PA)

William Munny, a top-class bumper horse last year, is set to make his hurdling debut.

“The plan with William Munny is to run him in the maiden hurdle at Leopardstown on the 26th (of December),” said Connell.

“I’d say it could be pretty strong this year because it’s been so dry and a lot of horses haven’t been out yet. In other years a lot of the good novices have already been out.

“He’s schooled well and is in good form and the Punchestown bumper he ran in is working out, he seems to be a natural.”

Connell’s other top-class horse is Marine Nationale, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner from 2023 who returned from his own injury to finish second to Quilixios at Naas.

“Marine had a schooling session at Punchestown just because I was conscious his novice season was so truncated, he really only had two races,” said Connell.

“A second-season novice would normally have had four or five runs and been to one of the festivals.

“He was caught on the back foot at Naas due to the lack of experience from last year so in the circumstances I thought he ran well at Naas and he schooled really well at Punchestown. We’re really happy with him and he’ll be going for the Grade One (Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase).

“They are all one bit of work away and touch wood we’ll get them all there in one piece.”

Connell content with Marine Nationale comeback effort

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Barry Connell remains confident Marine Nationale can establish himself as a legitimate Queen Mother Champion Chase contender, despite his comeback defeat at Naas on Sunday.

The seven-year-old looked a potential star in the making after stretching his unbeaten record to five in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival and made a fine start to his career over fences at Leopardstown last Christmas.

However, he subsequently disappointed in the Irish Arkle and missed the rest of the season, meaning his outing in Sunday’s Barberstown Castle Chase was his first in nine months.

Odds-on backers had their fingers burnt, with Marine Nationale unable to reel in the front-running Quilixios, but his owner-trainer feels there were plenty of positives in his performance.

“He has very little experience, his novice campaign was truncated, so that was only his third run over fences and I thought he jumped well in the body of the race,” said Connell.

“He was a little sticky at the first, but down the back he made up a lot of ground over five or six of the fences there. He was travelling very well turning in and looked like the winner and I’d say the winner got the run of the race and jumped from fence to fence.

“If the winner wasn’t in it, we’d have been a good winner and I’m very happy that he came out of the race great.”

Barry Connell with Marine Nationale at Cheltenham
Barry Connell with Marine Nationale at Cheltenham (Mike Egerton/PA)

Paddy Power eased Marine Nationale’s Queen Mother Champion Chase odds to 16-1 from 9-1, but Connell believes it is too early to dismiss his claims just yet, with a return to Grade One level at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival next on his agenda.

He added: “It’s all systems go for Leopardstown at Christmas and the rest of the campaign to head on to the Queen Mother.

“I’d be very happy that he’ll improve a ton for that run yesterday and there’s very little mileage on the clock – that was his eighth run in total.

“He’ll be grand and he’ll be one of the contenders come March anyway.”