Marine Nationale looks set to impress in the opening race of the Cheltenham Festival, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, on the back of four consecutive wins.
One of those wins came at Punchestown last May, beating Demandrivingdouvan by over three lengths.
We spoke to the owner of Demandrivingdouvan, @USASteeplechase on Twitter, who was impressed by Marine Nationale on that day and continues to be today.
He is certainly one to look out for on day one of the Festival and is many tipster’s pick to win The Supreme.
”The horse I’m most interested in watching (apart from Constitution Hill) is Barry Connell’s unbeaten Marine Nationale in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle,” USASteeplechase told Park Life Sport.
”We ran against him in a bumper at Punchestown in May 2022. We had heard good things about him that day, and he beat our boy (Demandrivingdouvan) by 3 3/4 lengths.
”He has since gone on to win the Grade One Royal Bond at Fairyhouse. Although the winning margin was only a head, he was traveling strongly before clouting the last.
”Trainer Barry Connell is confident, but the one concern is the ground; I don’t think he will appreciate it too soft.”
Marine Nationale is third favourite for The Supreme, behind Facile Vega and Il Etait Temps, with a price of 11/2 at the time of writing.
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