English/Ire
Marine Nationale ruled out of Champion Chase
Marine Nationale has been ruled out of next week’s BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival after suffering a setback.
A winner of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in 2023, Marine Nationale was set to return to Cheltenham next week to defend his Champion Chase crown having plundered the two-mile contest by a brilliant eighteen lengths last season.
However, the Barry Connell-trained chaser, who has suffered defeat at Leopardstown on both starts this season, will now not make his presence felt at Prestbury Park after being ruled out due to a "sore neck".
Connell revealed that all being well he should be on course to run at Punchestown.
