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'If he wants to take us on, fair play to him' - Barry Connell relishing Fact To File clash with Marine Nationale
Racegoers can expect to see an even better Marine Nationale next week than the one who blitzed his rivals by 18 lengths in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham according to a bullish Barry Connell, who is relishing a first battle with Fact To File in what promises to be one of the races of the Punchestown festival.
A blockbuster clash between the winners of the Champion Chase and the Ryanair is undoubtedly the highlight of day one on Tuesday in the William Hill Champion Chase, which Fact To File's trainer Willie Mullins will be bidding to win for a sixth time in seven years.
Connell could have something to say about that, though, as he reports Marine Nationale to have blossomed in the six weeks since his exhilarating success in the Champion Chase.
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Published on inPunchestown festival
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