Barry Connell reports Marine Nationale to be in “savage form” ahead of his return to Leopardstown to contest the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival on February 1. And Connell is bullish about what lies ahead as he looks ahead to both Leopardstown and Cheltenham. Eachtotheirown disappointed when fifth in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse before Christmas so Connell was understandably thrilled to see him bounce back so stylishly. He said: “Plan A was to go and win the Royal Bond and it just didn’t happen for him on the day. If we had won the Royal Bond that is where we would have been going.

Source: Irish Examiner January 18, 2026 17:51 UTC