Marine Nationale seals emotional Cheltenham triumph

Marine Nationale claimed an affectional triumph successful the Queen Mother Champion Chase astatine the Cheltenham Festival.

The 5-1 chance, ridden by Sean Flanagan for owner-trainer Barry Connell, won a melodramatic contention by 18 lengths from favourite Jonbon, whose advancement was halted by a jumping mistake.

Marine Nationale had won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle 2 years agone successful the aforesaid yellowish and bluish colours for Michael O'Sullivan, the Irish jockey who died aft a autumn past month.

"I'm conscionable the antheral connected him today, Michael made him what helium is," said Flanagan.

"It's hugely affectional for a batch of reasons. His household find it precise hard. Jockeys successful Ireland, England and astir the satellite person been nether a unreality successful the past mates of weeks."

The New Lion (3-1) extended his unbeaten tally to 5 with an awesome triumph from The Yellow Clay successful the Turners Novices' Hurdle.

Jockey Harry Skelton triumphed for trainer member Dan to seal an 80th Festival triumph for proprietor JP McManus, who bought the equine earlier this year.

"He's a phenomenal equine and I've ne'er had 1 similar this," said Dan of The New Lion, who is astir a 7-1 changeable for adjacent year's Champion Hurdle.

Lecky Watson was guided by Sean O'Keeffe to a astonishment 20-1 triumph successful the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase for Willie Mullins.

Stablemate Ballyburn was sent disconnected the lukewarm favourite but helium ne'er recovered from a large blunder astatine the seventh fence.

Another Mullins outsider, the 16-1 accidental Jimmy Du Seuil, won the Coral Cup nether the trainer's nephew Danny. The victor had finished 13 lengths 2nd to Ballyburn arsenic a novice hurdler astatine Cheltenham past year.

The 5-2 favourite Stumptown stayed connected champion of each to triumph the Cross Country Chase for jockey Keith Donoghue and trainer Gavin Cromwell. Latenightpass was 2nd with Vanillier third, having earlier astir led the full tract down the incorrect route.