EASILY one of the most intriguing races of the weekend was the Ladbrokes Best Odds (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race where Barry Connell took the wraps off a newcomer of real note in Marine Nationale.

This race has previously been won by the likes of Faugheen and City Island and this year’s renewal was not short of interest. The very well-touted point-to-point winner Demandrivingdouvan, the promising Punchestown Festival third Halibut and a newcomer for Willie Mullins who had shown promise in points were all part of the line-up.

Marine Nationale, a French Navy half-brother to several winners from a yard more than capable of having horses in good shape for their first runs, was returned a very well-backed 15/2 chance and produced a lovely effort under Mikey O’Sullivan.

He travelled through the race with style and class and picked up nicely off a steady enough pace. Over the last furlong and a half, the outcome rested between Marine Nationale and Demandrivingdouvan and the former was much too strong in the closing stage as he pulled away to prevail by just under four lengths.

“He’s a smart horse. He hasn’t been away anywhere and we haven’t had him on grass before,” commented owner/trainer Connell. “He’s a quick horse – he’s by the same sire as Layfayette – and there are options for him, either a winners’ bumper or a flat maiden. It looked a strong enough race and I’d have been happy to finish in the first three.”

Tudor revival

Unquestionably one of the highlights of last week was the victory of Tudor City (18/1) in the Ladbrokes-sponsored two-mile handicap hurdle.

Another winner for the resurgent Tony Martin, the 10-year-old was without a win over timber since landing the 2019 Galway Hurdle but clearly retains plenty of his old dash. Bryan Cooper produced him from off the pace to lead on the run-in and the John Breslin-owned gelding reached the line with a length and a half to spare over the front-running Family Business.

“He’s been a bit unfortunate, he probably hasn’t won as many races as he should have for the class of animal he is but today was brilliant,” commented Martin who started out his charge in a mile maiden at Leopardstown close to eight years ago. “We had a few bad years, we had a lot of mishaps and different troubles but touch wood all the horses are running well now again.

“The hope is to go back to Galway with this horse. The Galway Hurdle is probably beyond him now and we could look at the consolation hurdle on the Friday.”

Espion strikes again for Lyons

ESPION Du Chenet, who has done much to advertise the talents of his trainer Louise Lyons, added another race to his haul in the Ladbrokes We Play Together Handicap Chase over two miles.

This eight-year-old gave his trainer her first success at Naas in December 2020 and was winning for the fifth time since then as he bested a field that contained some much higher rated rivals. Philip Enright bided his time on the 10/1 shot and patient tactics worked out splendidly here as the Nicholas Teehan-owned gelding accounted for Zarkareva by just over two lengths.

“Ryan Treacy (regular rider) told me to let him find his feet. I rode him in Aintree and was forceful on him down over the first couple of fences and never got into a rhythm jumping. He warmed to it today and the light weight was probably a big help,” stated Enright.

Francois is back

Francois ended a near four-year wait for his second career success in the Ladbrokes-sponsored conditions hurdle over two and a half miles. The Mary Ellen Doyle-trained seven-year-old had been placed in three of his four previous runs this year but still looked to have it all to do on ratings for the Francois Syndicate.

However, the joint-favourites Soviet Pimpernel and Off You Go both disappointed and as they struggled to find a way past Wolf Prince, it was Francois who had the answers as he swept to the front for Donagh Meyler before the last to prevail by a length and a quarter.

The winner recorded his most recent success as a three-year-old at Lyon Parilly in October 2018.

Mighty Male

Donagh Meyler was earlier successful aboard Peter Maher’s Alpha Male (10/1) in the Ladbrokes-sponsored 0-109 rated handicap chase over two miles, five furlongs. Successful in a point-to-point here a fortnight previously but without a win under rules since landing the 2018 Bishopscourt Cup, the 11-year-old saw off I’ll Be That Lady by a length and a half.

Heia bosses race in Mullins’ double

THERE was an impressive effort on show in the Ladbrokes-sponsored mares’ novice hurdle but it came from Heia (7/4) and not the odds-on Naughtinesse.

The Willie Mullins-trained and Paul Townend-ridden Heia lined up with plenty of decent efforts to her name, notably a third in a Grade A handicap at Fairyhouse over Easter, and she dominated this race from the front.

The Kenny Alexander-owned mare had Naughtinesse at full stretch well before the last and went on to score by 10 lengths.

“We were probably going a stride slow early on to use her jumping so I went on at the one at the top of the hill and let her boss the race from there,” said Townend. “She was entitled to do that on her Fairyhouse and Killarney form.”

Max makes it

Tax For Max made it a double for Mullins and Townend as he justified his position as the 30/100 favourite in the first division of the Ladbrokes-sponsored maiden hurdle over two miles.

The 134-rated five-year-old, who was a close third in a good handicap hurdle at this track a month previously, availed of his easiest opportunity to date over hurdles.

The newcomer Folio tried to provide the favourite with a stern test but was beaten turning for home and the Issac Souede and Simon Munir-owned Tax For Max finished with three and a half lengths to spare.

The second division of the maiden hurdle went to Gordon Elliott and Bective Stud as the hitherto frustrating 113-rated Showbusiness (11/4) opened his account at an opportune time.

Just three days before he was due to come under the hammer at the Tattersalls Ascot May Sale, Showbusiness put it all together under Jack Kennedy to strike on his 10th start over flights.

The five-year-old controled the race from the front pulling out plenty under pressure in the closing stages to defeat the favourite Ballybough Native by a length and a quarter.