Marine Nationale (9-2) swooped through to land a superb victory in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle on the opening day of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.
Trainer Barry Connell – landing a first victory at the Festival – had been bullish over his six-year-old's chances of glory. He had stated he had the 'best horse' in the race. He was proved right as, under Michael O'Sullivan, Marine Nationale stalked Willie Mullins' 5-2 favourite Facile Vega and came through to challenge before going on to win by three-and-a-qurter lengths. Mullins' stablemate Diverge (25-1) a further two-and-three-quarters-of-a-length back in third as the first eight home were Irish-trained.
O'Sullivan was still in college when Constitution Hill was winning the Festival opener 12 months ago, and his only trip to Prestbury Park was when he partnered an outsider in last year's Kim Muir Chase. But the Irish jockey reprised his victory in the Royal Bond earlier in the season, sitting confident in the pack before coming through for a brilliant first victory at the Festival for the jockey.
