Marine Nationale won the Champion Chase at Punchestown

Having won the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on his sixth chase start, this ready defeat of Captain Guinness ought to cement Marine Nationale‘s position as the top two-mile chaser but the day one feature didn’t pan out as many neutral observers had hoped.

Brilliant Ryanair Chase winner Fact To File was made the 11/10 favourite despite dropping back to two miles but Mark Walsh could be seen niggling his mount – held-up towards the rear – from around four out and Walsh was quick to ease Fact To File down with all chance gone three from home.

Solness had taken the field along from Captain…