Marine Nationale gives both trainer Barry Connell and jockey Michael O’Sullivan a first Cheltenham Festival winner. The Hollywood colours can be seen behind the winner (Liverpool Echo).
The Hollywood Syndicate colours were seen for the first time at the Cheltenham Festival in the first event on today’s opening day, the Grade 1 Supreme Novices Hurdle, carried by the Paddy Mullins-trained Il Etait Temps, who is owned also by the Kieswetter family’s Barnane Stud.
He finished fifth beaten nine lengths, a disappointment considering he started second favourite.
However, it might have gone a bit better if jockey Danny Mullins had not made a possible mistake at the top of the hill, which he might have rued later.
Sitting towards the back for most of the two mile journey Il Etait Temps was behind the favourite Facile Vega and the eventual winner Marine Nationale approaching the top of the hill.
Mullins could have followed Marine Nationale down the hill but opted instead to switch outward and move forward.
Il Etait Temps initially moved up well on the outside.
However, by the time they had reached the final turn with the fearsome Cheltenham climb to the finish ahead of them, it was clear that, further inward, Facile Vega and Marine Nationale, were moving way better than Il Etait Temps was in his isolated position out wide.
Facile Vega hit the front before the last but Marine Nationale was still looking dangerous.
Facile Vega then made a mess of the last jump and handed the initiative to Marine Nationale, who powered home to win by 3,25 lengths.
Marine Nationale remains unbeaten after five starts.
It was a first Cheltenham Festival winner for Irish trainer Barry Connell, who had quoted the racing adage in the build up, “You don’t find good horses, good horses find you.”
It was also a first festival win for 23-year-old rising star jockey Michael O’Sullivan.
Il Etait Temps struggled on gamely up the hill, but was beaten a long way out and would not have been a match for the front pair even if he had followed them down the hill.
