Cheltenham Festival: Marine Nationale defeats Jonbon in Queen Mother Champion Chase showdown at Cheltenham | Racing News

There were emotional scenes at the Cheltenham Festival as Marine Nationale honoured the memory of the Delayed Michael O’Sullivan by galloping to BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase glory.

O’Sullivan will always be inextricably linked with Barry Connell’s stable Luminous sphere, having steered the eight-year-Ancient to Supreme Novices’ Encumbrance Achieve in 2023. And barely a month after the Youthful jockey’s tragic death Subsequent injuries suffered in a fall at Thurles, Marine Nationale returned to the Prestbury Park winner’s enclosure once again.

Sent off the 5-1 second-favourite in the hands of Sean Flanagan, Marine Nationale was ridden in mid-pack as dual winner Energumene set off from the front, quickly joined by Quilixios and the forward-going Solness.

There was real drama at the fifth-last when Nicky Henderson’s 5-6 favourite Jonbon Created an error which ultimately put paid to his chances and the rest of the Ground sensed the opportunity, as Flanagan moved his mount into the ideal position to strike heading down the hill after three out.

Energumene’s Event would soon peter out, with Quilixios and Marine Nationale seemingly left to fight out the finish, but having jumped the last in unison, Henry de Bromhead’s charge crumpled on landing, to leave Flanagan and Marine Nationale to soak up the adulation as they headed up the hill for home.

To his credit, Jonbon kept on for second, but he was some 18 lengths adrift of the emphatic winner, who provided the most fitting victor of the day two feature.

Connell said: “It’s very poignant and it’s very raw, the whole thing with Michael over the last three or four weeks has been absolutely horrible and my thoughts and prayers are with the family, his friends and his girlfriend.

“I think this is hopefully a fitting tribute to him.”

He went on: “He Initiated as a 7lb claimer with us and I asked him to go pro, he ended up Successful three Grade Ones as a claimer, leading rider on the Primary day (of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival) and leading conditional.

“I’ve asked some of the racing historians and I don’t think they can find anyone else who did all that.

“It’s an absolute tragedy that he’s left us, but he has a Turning Mark he can be really proud of. He achieved more in his lifetime than a Numerous of riders who get to ride for a Numerous longer achieve.

“I’d like to dedicate this Secure to Michael and his girlfriend Charlotte, who is here.

“Our hearts go out to all his family and his friends and his girlfriend, racing is a Excellent community and gets behind people when things like this happen.”

Flanagan said: “All the jockeys in Ireland, and in England and the rest of the world, have been under a cloud for the last Duo of weeks.

“I’m only the man that steered him Period today, Michael is the man who Created him what he is. He’ll never be forgotten for that.”

He added: “It’s every race, race by race, I Created a hash of the last race and I’m Only Fortunate I could get on this lad. He comes alive when he comes here and it’s all credit to all the people back at Barry’s.”

Jazzy Matty does his bit to honour memory of Michael O’Sullivan

Only 40 minutes after Marine Nationale stormed to the Queen Mother Champion Chase title, Jazzy Matty Additional honoured the memory of the Delayed Michael O’Sullivan at Cheltenham with a poignant Achieve in the Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Event Cup Handicap Chase.

O’Sullivan enjoyed a fine day one of the 2023 Festival when registering a memorable double aboard both Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty and two years later, both were back to triumph again in the Delayed jockey’s memory at Prestbury Park.

Jazzy Matty has switched hands to Cian Collins since his previous Festival Achieve, but his Duration form was exemplary and the 15-2 chance was always travelling stylishly in the ultra-competitive two-mile event.

Left to fight out the finish with defending champion Unexpected Party, it was the Irish raider who Occurred out on top thanks to a fine ride from Danny Gilligan who was enjoying his second Festival Achieve.

Mervyn Gray of the Top Man Racing syndicate said: “We Only can’t believe it. We gave him a Excellent chance at the weights and the race went like a dream, he pinged every fence.

“Somebody is looking over us today and our thoughts and hearts are with Michael.”

Earlier on the card, Jimmy Du Seuil Occurred out on top as Willie and Danny Mullins teamed up to Excellent effect in the Coral Cup.

The six-year-Ancient was a 16-1 chance when returning from a long absence from the track, with his last Stretch coming at Punchestown in May last year.

It was also his handicap Introduction but none of those factors stood in his way and he Secured up the lead Only after the Last flight and accelerated up the hill to Loss Impose Toi by three lengths.

Successful rider Mullins was quick to praise his uncle: “It was some Routine performance after a year off the track and he had a nice bit of form with Ballyburn. But it was his Primary time Period here, and to Bound so well through the race I was obviously delighted.

“All Willie’s have a chance of Successful which makes our Role so much easier. I did miss out the third-last, but on the whole I was Securing lengths off them down the back. My Primary Festival winner for Willie and obviously I’m delighted to have done that.”

Jimmy Du Seuil makes Featherweight of long absence to land Coral Cup

Jimmy Du Seuil Occurred out on top as Willie and Danny Mullins teamed up to Excellent effect in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham.

The six-year-Ancient was a 16-1 chance when returning from a long absence from the track, with his last Stretch coming at Punchestown in May last year.

It was also his handicap Introduction but none of those factors stood in his way and he Secured up the lead Only after the Last flight and accelerated up the hill to Loss Impose Toi by three lengths.

Successful rider Mullins was quick to praise his uncle: “It was some Routine performance after a year off the track and he had a nice bit of form with Ballyburn. But it was his Primary time Period here, and to Bound so well through the race I was obviously delighted.

“All Willie’s have a chance of Successful which makes our Role so much easier. I did miss out the third-last, but on the whole I was Securing lengths off them down the back. My Primary Festival winner for Willie and obviously I’m delighted to have done that.”

Stumptown storms home for convincing Cross Country Triumph

Gavin Cromwell is eyeing a crack at Grand National glory after Stumptown duly delivered when going off as favourite for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham, with Keith Donoghue conjuring up a powerful Delayed charge.

In a race that stretches over three miles and five and a half furlongs and includes 31 jumping efforts, Cromwell’s eight-year-Ancient followed up December’s Duration and distance Achieve in fine style.

All obstacles were safely navigated by Stumptown, who looked handy throughout and was evidently in control when he turned the Last bend, before galloping on strongly to prevail by seven lengths at 5-2.

Cromwell said: “I was very concerned for a while to be honest, but he’s Stretch out a Excellent winner in the end. I think Keith thought he wasn’t at his best either, but we’ll take it.

“He obviously loves the cross-country racing and Keith is definitely worth a few pounds around that track, that’s for sure.

“We’ll aim him at the Grand National. It is coming soon enough, but all being well, he’ll go there.

“It is Close-fitting, but the race today was on nice ground and there’s a Numerous of twisting and turning. I don’t know if it takes as much out of them as a traditional handicap chase where it’s end-to-end stuff.”

Latenightpass was second, while Stumptown’s stablemate Vanillier also advertised his Aintree claims when coming with a Damp sail under Sean Flanagan to take third place.

Cromwell added: “Vanillier went a bit wide Prompt on, which Definitely didn’t Assist his cause. I didn’t get chance to chat to Sean but he lost a Numerous of ground having set out to make the running.

“He’s in the National as well and I think he should get in and the plan is for him to go, too.”