Connell's Marine impresses on debut

Newcomer Marine Nationale ran out an impressive winner of the last at Punchestown, the Ladbrokes Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.

Trained and owned by Barry Connell, the son of French Navy was available at 20/1 in early shows, but went off at just 15/2 under Michael O'Sullivan.

Settled in mid-division, he took closer order with six furlongs to race and was poised to challenge on the outside on the approach to the straight.

Pushed along and in a share of the lead with Demandrivingdouvan over a furlong from home, he soon gained the upper hand and stretched clear in the closing stages, coming home three-and-three-parts of a length to the good.

Demandrivingdouvan, who was returned the 11/8 favourite, ultimately had to settle for second under Jamie Codd for Gordon Elliott, while Halibut (10/3) was another two-and-three-parts of a length back in third.

"He's a smart horse. He hasn't been away anywhere and we haven't had him on grass before," said Connell.

"He was working really well at home but I thought he might need the experience here today.

"He's a quick horse, he's by French Navy the sire of Layfayette. The options are open for him, either a winners bumper or a Flat maiden, maybe the race in Galway.

"That's a bonus to get that done today, I would have been happy to finish in the first three. It looked a strong enough race and the third was third in a festival bumper here.

"The rider was very happy with him and said he was straight-forward, you couldn't ask for more really."

The winner is a half-brother to Bells Of Peterboro who has won four times in the UK for Tim Vaughan, while Ballinderry Moth, who won a bumper at Killarney in 2015, is a half-sister.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson