Marine Nationale brings the house down as he thunders up the hill to land an emotional, emphatic Champion Chase victory

Marine Nationale slammed his rivals in the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase after Quilixios fell at the last and Jonbon ruined his chances with a terrible blunder.

The victory came laced with poignancy as it was Marine Nationale who had carried the late jockey Michael O’Sullivan to a memorable victory in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.

Marine Nationale went through the race with immense poise and power, but the race changed direction on the far side of the course when Jonbon slammed into a fence and jolted Nico de Boinville up into the air. While the pair remained united, their chance had disappeared.

Marine Nationale and Sean Flanagan after winning the Champion ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Energumene, who had jumped with flair, weakened as the horses approached the final turn and it came down to a head-to-head between Quilixios and Marine Nationale. The latter was getting the upper hand coming to the final fence, when the former fell and ensured the result was a truly memorable one.

Despite his error, Jonbon continued through the race and was able to pick up the pieces to finish second as the 5-6 favourite, while last year's winner Captain Guinness was third.

What the winning trainer said

Barry Connell: “I’d like to say it’s very poignant and very raw, the whole thing with Michael over the last three or four weeks has been horrible, horrible. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and his girlfriend, Charlotte, is here and was with us saddling up the horse. Everybody in racing has come together for Michael and I hope this is a fitting tribute to him. This is a magical creature, to get one like him you just pinch yourself.”

What the winning rider said

Sean Flanagan, jockey: "It’s hugely emotional for a lot of reasons. All the jockeys in the world have been under a cloud for the last couple of weeks. I’m only the man that steered him around, Michael’s the man who made him what he is and he’ll never be forgotten.

What Jonbon's rider said

Nico de Boinville, jockey of Jonbon: “It was a good run to finish second as it all went wrong. I’m not blaming anyone but he didn’t like the tape under his nose. [The start] was horrendous.”

RPR analysis

By Steve Mason

Marine Nationale ran out a worthy winner of the Champion Chase, his winning Racing Post Rating of 173 only having been bettered by Altior (183), Energumene (179 and 177) and Sprinter Sacre (176) in the past decade.

As he had done when beaten at odds-on in the rescheduled Clarence House Chase on the New Course last season, Jonbon (164+) blundered away his chance mid-race and, although he finished well to snatch the runner-up spot, he was a lot further behind Marine Nationale at the line than he had been at the second-last.

Without doubt he would have finished a lot closer to Marine Nationale with a clear round of fencing, but it's impossible to know if he could have beaten the winner. He has posted half a dozen RPRs of 170 or above, but his best figure at Prestbury Park is 169.