Reporter: Simon Rowlands
The fastest Punchestown Champion Chase this century by about 20 lengths, which reflects good horses and a good pace (winner’s final 4f of 56.57s/103.4% is close to par) but also ground firmer than advertised, bordering on “good to firm” on the chase course. The race was still very much up for grabs when El Fabiolo fell 2 out, but the manner in which Marine Nationale finished thereafter suggests he would have been difficult to beat regardless.
MARINE NATIONALE (c170 here and previously) capitalised on the jumping deficiencies of a major rival for the second start running but again impressed with his finishing effort and has established himself just about at the top of a two-mile chasing division that is otherwise in flux. He was held up until improving smoothly when briefly short of room 3 out, was left in the lead at the next then quickened clear on the run-in. It’s not quite clear what as holding him back earlier in the campaign, but a similar one seems on the cards for 2025/2026.
CAPTAIN GUINNESS (c161 here, 144 previously) finally returned to something approaching his best form under speed-favouring conditions, close up jumping well and with every chance from 3 out until the winner went clear late on.
SOLNESS (c156 here, 162 previously) ran better if not quite to his very best, rousted to lead, guessing at one mid-race and headed 2 out. The tactics employed on him didn’t pay off for him here but should continue to cause headaches for rivals in races like this.
FACT TO FILE (c122 here, 172 previously) might not have been suited by a drop to the minimum trip under such quick conditions but ran a pretty lifeless race even so, held up in touch and nudged along soon after halfway, outpaced from the third-last.
EL FABIOLO (c164+ here, 164 previously) was let down by his jumping for the 4th time in his last 6 runs but did at least show that there was quite a bit of the old fire still there, held up a bit wide before leading narrowly 2 out when still going quite well, only to fall there.
SENECIA (c0 here, 151 previously)
