Marine Nationale might be kept fresh for Cheltenham Festival

Illustrious Bond champ Marine Nationale may not run again until the Cheltenham Festival, his coach and proprietor Barry Connell has uncovered.

A double guard champ prior to making a successful presentation over hurdles at Punchestown in October, the five-year-old stretched out his unbeaten record to four with an engaging triumph at Fairyhouse on Sunday - furnishing Connell with a first Grade One success taking out his preparation license two years prior.

Connell has delighted in Cheltenham brilliance in the past, both as a proprietor and a rider, and views Marine Nationale as an ideal possibility for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Obstacle, for which he is a 8-1 shot with the sponsors.

He holds a more quick section in the Paddy Power Future Champions Fledgling Obstacle at Leopardstown on December 27, and has the choice of running at the Dublin Horse Racing Festival in February which available to watch on Unifrance, yet Connell is as of now leaning toward staying prepared for the Festival drape raiser in Spring.

He said: "He's emerged from the race 100% fortunately. I'm exceptionally content with him.

"The soft ground wasn't great for him on Sunday and I suppose on the off chance that he'd place in a legitimate leap at the last he would have won snugly. At the same time it was great to see him commit an error nevertheless win - it was a decent exhibition.

"There's a possibility that we could go straight to Cheltenham, I'd say. He runs well fresh and has been in a hurry the entire summer, so I'd say we're likely inclining more towards going straight to Cheltenham.

"He has his Grade One and has a lot of involvement now, so that is the most probable arrangement at present in any case."

Connell has suggested Marine Nationale could ultimately be battled on the Level, with an outing to Illustrious Ascot even mooted. For the present, however, the Province Kildare controller's need is a lot of on the bouncing game.

He added: "I just referenced it (Regal Ascot) because of the speed he has - I figure he could make a decent Level horse at the appropriate time.

"Be that as it may, it's not in that frame of mind sooner rather than later. The principal work is setting out toward the Supreme at this point."

Despite still being a guaranteeing jockey, Michael O'Sullivan has been ever-present in the saddle on board Marine Nationale thus far and Connell was excited to give his held rider his first Grade One win.

He said: "He worked really hard. He knows the horse quite well, he's come out on top in every one of the four races on him now and he's a major piece of the group.

"He'll keep on riding every one of our horses going ahead. He rode a victor at the November meeting in Cheltenham and has some insight round there, so he'll be all set around there in Spring."

War Lord prepared for step up in trip in December Gold Cup

Joe Tizzard believes War Lord will relish the step up in distance when he lines up in the AIS December Gold Cup Debilitation Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday. Albeit a victor over a middle excursion over hurdles, the son of Jukebox Jury spent most of his fledgling chasing season at two miles, winning 원엑스벳 three times and running great in the Arkle prior to stepping up in distance to finish second in Grade One organization at Aintree on his last start.

He started the new mission in Exeter's Haldon Gold Cup over almost two and a quarter miles and the staying on nature of his third on that occasion has connections certain this present time is the opportunity to again stretch out the yardage and endeavor to make the most of a sign of 148.

He is around a 7-1 opportunity for the £130,000 contest and the main slight worry of War Lord's controller is with respect to conditions drying out at Prestbury Park.

"I figure he will run an exquisite race," said Tizzard. "He was a progressive beginner last year and his disagreement the Haldon Gold Cup - in the event that you stopped it turning in it seemed as though he would exit the rear of the television - yet he stayed on very well.

"I'm somewhat stressed over the ground, it looks to evaporate and the ground is in my sub-conscience, yet this has been the arrangement since Exeter and he's in great scratch at home and should be serious off this imprint.

"I believe he's shouting out for it (step up in trip), that's what he was telling us at the back finish of last year and unquestionably that's what we took from the race at Exeter."

De Sousa and Marquand share best position in Hong Kong

Silvestre de Sousa and Tom Marquand shared the spoils toward the finish of one of the tightest Longines Worldwide Jockeys' 윈윈벳 Championships in the occasion's rich history.

Before a boisterous and passionate Blissful Valley horde of around 11,000, every one of the four legs went to an alternate rider, with none among De Sousa, Marquand, Vincent Ho and Derek Leung ready to add a scoring place that would have separated them from the pack. The joint-champions were named on countback, with De Sousa and Marquand sharing HK$700,000 by virtue of the two riders indenting a fourth putting prior at night, however at the midway stage neither had scored any points.

"To finish joint-top with Silvestre is epic," said Marquand, who finished tied for second behind Zac Purton here 12 months prior. "He's been top dog jockey back home, he works so hard and is someone you gaze upward to in the weighing room.

"It's an enormous honor and sometimes you need to squeeze yourself that these things are going on."

Victor of the Longines IJC in 2018, De Sousa secured his half of the title while gripping on board Adios for Frankie Lor in the last leg.

De Sousa said: "I never say kick the bucket and I was just excited to win for Frankie because he has supported me here since the very beginning. I thought Adios in the last leg was my best opportunity and he has emerged and demonstrated that."

De Sousa added: "I'm just glad. It's my second time winning and I finished set some other time. In the last leg I just felt the group and despite the fact that it was a long last half furlong, say thanks to God he got his head down and we gave it everything."

Marquand got on the load up in Leg three while embracing the rail on board Winning Mythical serpent prior to driving the Chilean import past Red Majesty, leaving him in post position courtesy of his work in Leg 1.

Speaking subsequent to Winning Mythical serpent's success, Marquand said: "For the last two or three years we couldn't resist the opportunity to leave feeling we most likely got a portion of the experience without crowds. Yet, it's an extraordinary accomplishment from the Hong Kong Rider Club to have made all the difference for it and it's great to have the crowds back and get the full IJC experience."

De Sousa had the heaviness of favoritism to battle with while getting the advantage from Lor on Adios in the finishing up heat yet showed commonplace steel to direct the 2/1 market pioneer home, holding off the late charge of Red Lion to score by a short head. Such was the finely-adjusted nature of this Longines IJC that Jamie Kah would have swept past both her rivals had Red Lion arrived in the withering strides.

In the end that razor-slender edge left Kah in fifth, with Ho and Leung sharing the HK$100,000 check for third spot. Ho opened the LONGINES IJC with an obvious success on Handsome Renegade for mentor Jamie Richards. Leung was just affirmed as a late substitution for Mickael Barzalona and coordinated his late thrust flawlessly while dropping Mutually beneficial Contender in front on the line to deny Hugh Bowman and Imperial Pride.

Lor secured the HK$200,000 bonus as driving mentor across the four legs, beating Tony Cruz and Francis Lui thanks to Adios' success... MORE INFO

"To finish joint-top with Silvestre is epic," said Marquand, who finished tied for second behind Zac Purton 12 months prior.

"I've truly delighted in being here the last several years, however you were unable to assist with feeling that I'd just got two-thirds of the way there. This evening, with having fans back here and all the development in advance, it's mega, and to finish joint first with Silvestre [De Sousa] is epic. He's somebody I've turned upward to at home as a numerous time champion rider, and he's been the encapsulation of somebody who works very hard. It's an enormous distinction to have won it alongside him.

"I need to squeeze myself a ton of the time. This is my third year riding here and I was told yesterday I'm still the youngest one here, which seems pretty marvelous! I'm very appreciative for these opportunities and being back here in Hong Kong is astonishing."