Latest news with #MarineNationale
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Joint UK and French military exercise on D-Day training beach
An amphibious warfare exercise involving UK and French troops is taking place on a Devon beach that was used to train soldiers for D-Day. Exercise Catamaran is a two-week training operation spilt between North Devon and the Bay of Biscay, involving 11 warships, aircraft and about 3,000 from the two nations are being launched ashore on Devon's Braunton Burrows beach, which was used to train soldiers for the D-Day landings on 6 June Royal Navy's Maj Gen Rich Cantrill said the "highly complex" amphibious operations require regular practice and the joint exercise is "echoing our history" from World War Two. The Royal Navy and Marine Nationale task group is operating under the control of the joint French and British Combined Joint Expeditionary Force, along with Spanish troops. Seaborne and helicopter commando raids are taking place on the beaches in North Devon before moving to the Bay of Biscay on Saturday. The Royal Navy said the purpose of the exercise was to test the ability of allied nations to operate effectively together in a wartime Gen Cantrill said the Royal Navy was delighted to participate in the French-led exercise and host its initial phase off the Devon coast."Amphibious operations are highly complex and so require regular practice," he said."We must stand united as allies, echoing our history from WWII and maintaining our ability to project power from sea to added: "As warfare evolves, as we've seen with Ukraine, we have to adapt, and the Royal Navy is significantly transforming its Commando Force and the way it delivers operations in the littoral." The D-Day landings involved the simultaneous landing of tens of thousands of troops on five separate beaches in Royal Navy said the exercises taking place on the anniversary of D-Day reflected the "continued relevance" of these operations 81 years since the largest amphibious landing in history. French commander of naval operations, Vice Adm Emmanuel Slaars, said the amphibious operations were "demanding". "You have to deal with the sea state and the weather, he said. "We know when we look back to history that is was an essential parameter of the decision to launch D-Day."The second phase of the exercise from Saturday until 15 June will will see training carried out in the Bay of Biscay. Royal Marines will operate from French Navy ships and air assaults will be launched from Royal Navy Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset onto the French coastline.
The Irish Sun
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Punchestown Festival: Ex-Garda scoops Best Dressed award thanks to help from ‘little sidekick' daughter
GENEVIEVE Ryan scooped the Best Dressed award for day one of the Punchestown Festival thanks to help from her "little sidekick" daughter Lily-Mae. The former Garda wowed judges with a black and white polka dot number. 4 Genevieve Ryan's black top was beautifully contrasted by the sunny weather Credit: Sportsfile 4 Alongside another racegoer in Lisa Walsh from Meath Credit: Sportsfile 4 Marine Nationale stormed to victory in the day's big race 4 It was a slight upset for jockey Sean Flanagan and trainer Barry Connell as Willie Mullins' star Fact to File had been expected to win Speaking to Furthermore, daughter Lily-Mae showcased some outside the box thinking by cutely suggesting that her mam top it all off by accessorising with her teddy bear. Genevieve recalled how her little girl noticed the teddy fit the colour scheme perfectly, saying: "I had the skirt and hat, but I was looking for a polka dot fabric. "So I bought one myself, which I had originally planned on using, and then my three-year-old girl said, 'No, Mommy, this is the same, use this!'" Read More On Irish Sport "I'm thrilled that she has a part to play in it because she's my little sidekick and we do everything together." Lily-Mae may well have earned herself a day out at the races later in the week with her fashionable insights beyond her years. A beaming Genevieve added: "I think I'm going to bring her on Friday just to see me up here with the teddy bear's ribbon." There will be a further three racegoers picked out as the Best Dressed across Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before one of them is crowned the overall winner. Most read in Horse Racing As for the eye-catching action on the track throughout day one of the five-day meet? Well, there was a slight upset in the day's feature race as Marine Nationale took the Champion Chase while favourite Fact to File could only manage fourth. Watch the terrifying moment Molly-Mae Hague is thrown from her horse in 'traumatising' accident Winning trainer Barry Connell joked afterwards that people will think "I'm nuts" after magical Marine Nationale turned on the style. The Co Kildare trainer hailed the eight-year-old as a 'horse of a lifetime' after he easily completed a Festival Champion Chase double. Marine Nationale The showdown with Fact To File was a non-event. The winner of the Ryanair was beaten three out, eventually trailing home in last place. Sean Flanagan and Marine Nationale were always going best and skipped clear after the last to beat Captain Guinness by seven lengths. Connell said: 'There is no doubt he's the best two-mile chaser around — and I reckon he will go down as one of the greats." He then revealed: "I spend a lot of time alone with this horse in his box. "There is an aura about him. He gives off this energy. You may think I'm nuts but that's what I do and that's what I feel."
The 42
29-04-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Marine Nationale completes Champion Chase double with Punchestown win
MARINE NATIONALE BACKED up his Cheltenham win with an impressive victory in the William Hill Champion Chase at Punchestown. Fresh from a wide-margin success in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at last month's Festival, Barry Connell's stable star was the 2-1 second-favourite to come out on top in a fascinating clash with the brilliant Ryanair Chase winner Fact To File (11-10). While the latter looked to be struggling to keep up with the strong pace being set by Solness from an early stage back over an extended two miles, Marine Nationale travelled strongly throughout under Sean Flanagan, although the race did look in the balance until El Fabiolo suffered his third fall in his last four starts two fences from home. Marine Nationale was in full command from that point and quickened up smartly from the final obstacle to pull seven lengths clear of Captain Guinness, with Solness third and Fact To File a bitterly disappointing last of four finishers. Advertisement Marine Nationale ridden by Sean Flanagan on their way to winning. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Barry Connell reacts after his horse Marine Nationale wins. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Champ Kiely upset his better fancied stablemate Ballyburn to claim top honours in a dramatic renewal of the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown. Willie Mullins saddled five of the eight runners that went to post for the Grade One contest, but first his Cheltenham Festival hero Lecky Watson fell at the fifth obstacle and brought down stablemate Impaire Et Passe before a third Closutton runner, Ile Atlantique, came to grief a few fences later. Danny Mullins wins The Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Steeplechase on Champ Kiely. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO Ballyburn, an 11-8 favourite to bounce back from Cheltenham disappointment, moved to the front on the second circuit – but 22-1 shot Champ Kiely and Danny Mullins sat in his slipstream before the home turn and had more to give in the straight, with six and a half lengths separating the pair at the line. Mullins said: 'Champ Kiely didn't enjoy Fairyhouse (finished third nine days ago) but today he was a different horse, and Danny rode him with huge confidence to follow Paul. 'He did everything right for Danny today. With all the hard luck we had in the race between fallers and a horse being brought down, it was great to see Danny getting into the picture at the third-last and I said this fella has a chance if Ballyburn doesn't stay in front.' Danny Mullins celebrates winning The Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Steeplechase. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO Of Ballyburn, he added: 'He probably just didn't jump well enough on the day and I would say there'll be a lot of thought put into going back hurdling next season. 'We know he jumps hurdles fantastically and there might be a gap in the staying hurdling division for him.'
Irish Examiner
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
'Horse of a lifetime' Marine Nationale scores with a swagger in Champion Chase
The specialist nature of two-mile chasing was reiterated on Tuesday evening when the last two winners of the Champion Chase at Cheltenham filled the first two places in the Grade One William Hill Champion Chase at Punchestown. In truth, it was a masterful performance from the reigning champ, the Barry Connell-trained and Sean Flanagan-ridden Marine Nationale, as he was able to travel behind the blistering early speed and then quicken up to challenge before putting the race to bed. On a day that reminded all racing fans of just what a puzzle end-of-season action can be, it was a refreshing departure from the upsets of the afternoon as the eight-year-old scored with a swagger. El Fabiolo had travelled strongly and still held every chance until taking a crashing fall at the second-last, but it was at that point that Marine Nationale had just come back on the bridle and looked to be making a move to win his race. With that one's departure, he was left to battle with 2024 Champion Chaser Captain Guinness and the speedy Solness, and yet the relatively fresh Marine Nationale quickened away in tremendous fashion to win by seven lengths from Captain Guinness, with Solness in third. The anticipated battle with Fact To File never materialised as the Ryanair Chase winner struggled to stay with the leaders as they raced beyond halfway and had to settle for a disappointing fourth-place finish. 'You can only beat what's there on the day to be beaten, and he's beaten them well,' said Flanagan. 'I gave him a nudge going down to the second-last and he's winged it and just completely come alive, and I've gone away to the last on the bridle. It generally only happens on horses like him. 'He is the reigning Champion Chaser for now, and we're going to enjoy that. I'm just delighted to be a small part of it. 'Barry holds the horse in such high regard. As he says, he's the horse of a lifetime. I've ridden a lot of horses through the years, and I've never ridden anything like him. 'I've said several times before, I'm riding 20 years and people say, 'why do you still get out of bed and go every day?' and that's why. You're looking for one, just one like him, and I think we've found one. 'It's a big credit to Barry. He knows this horse like the back of his hand, and he was adamant he had improved him. Even from my angle, from riding him, I thought he stepped up massively from Christmas to the DRF, and again to Cheltenham. And they told me there was more in the locker for him to step up again, and I think he's done it.' Connell, who is an open book when it comes to his horses, was emotional when achieving the lifetime ambition of winning a Champion Chase at Cheltenham and buoyed by this success, is already dreaming of more. 'We're thrilled. This is the horse of a lifetime,' he beamed. 'Our target is to win three and equal Badsworth Boy, who is the only horse in history to win three Champion Chases despite all of the storied horses over the years. 'He won doing a half-speed and I think this horse has all the attributes to be a multiple Champion Chase winner. 'He's only eight and that's his twelfth run. We missed a lot of our novice season last year, so it was a slow build, and I felt the horse had improved with every run and had improved again from Cheltenham - and we were proved right. 'He has no mileage on the clock, and he grows an extra leg in Cheltenham. He's so laid back, goes through the gears and just does enough. He doesn't burn any extra petrol than what he needs. 'He's the most wonderful creature and everybody in the yard has had a huge part to play in this. We only have 13 or 14 horses riding out and we're able to punch at the highest level if we get the ammunition.'
Irish Times
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Marine Nationale's Punchestown win has Barry Connell already dreaming of Champion Chase hat-trick
The two-mile title-holder Marine Nationale confirmed his status at the top of the division with a superb victory in the €300,000 William Hill Champion Chase on day one of the Punchestown Festival on Tuesday. Having supplied Cheltenham with its most poignant scenes shortly after the death of his former jockey Michael O'Sullivan, Marine Nationale stepped firmly into the spotlight by completing the big festival double in style. Seán Flanagan again did the steering on Barry Connell's star, who wound up beating Captain Guinness by seven lengths with Solness in third. The 11-10 favourite Fact To File never travelled like a winner in his first start at two miles and struggled home last of the four finishers. If the outcome vindicated Marine Nationale's championship status, it was also a welcome slice of normality on a particularly fraught opening day of the festival for those placing their faith in the form book. READ MORE Punchestown's slot at the end of a long campaign means it has a long history of providing surprises and there was a particularly silly season feel to some of Tuesday's results. Willie Mullins saddled the first four in the Grade One KPMG Novice Hurdle, but it was the heavy odds-on Cheltenham winner Kopek Des Bordes that trailed home last of them behind his 18-1 stable companion Irancy. The champion trainer subsequently had the first two in the Dooley Champion Novice Chase, except it was the 22-1 outsider of his five runners, Champ Kiely, that emerged on top of an incident-packed race. In fact, for much of the programme, spectacular sunny weather was about the only consolation for punters. Ruth Dudfield on Wonderful Everyday wins The Goffs Defender Bumper. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho The opening two races went to 22-1 and 50-1 shots and although Mullins completed a hat-trick, his third winner, Wonderful Everyday, was the 16-1 outsider of his four runners in the valuable Goffs Bumper. The Mullins three-timer paid a whopping 7,428-1. If left Marine Nationale as a rare piece of form logic, even if the market didn't reflect it. Fact To File didn't spark, but his stable companion El Fabiolo looked a real threat until a dramatic fall at the second last. Ultimately, though, the winner justified his owner-trainer's reasoning. Connell's faith in his stable star has never wavered and not only is he looking forward to a title defence at Cheltenham next March, he's anticipating a Champion Chase hat-trick in 2027. The Dublin businessman witnessed the sole ever triple-two mile champion Badsworth Boy complete the feat 40 years ago and is convinced Marine Nationale can emulate him. 'He's won doing a half-speed and I think this horse has all the attributes to be a multiple Champion Chase winner going forward. Our target is to win three and equal Badsworth Boy, who is the only horse in history to win three despite all of the storied horses over the years,' Connell said. 'This is the horse of a lifetime and we are going to mind him and you'll see him back in Cheltenham next year. He won't be 10-1 like he was this morning!' he added. The Mullins bandwagon rolled into the festival start, although hardly stopping where expected. Irancy had trailed well behind Kopek Des Bordes and Salvator Mundi at Cheltenham, but having scored at Fairyhouse in the interim he was ready to pounce on a frantic early pace set by his better-fancied stable companions and kick the form book firmly into touch. Danny Mullins wins the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Steeplechase on Champ Kiely. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho Once again Ballyburn flattered to deceive in the Grade One novice chase as Danny Mullins picked up the pieces, easing Champ Kiely through to ultimately win with some authority. It was a third Grade One victory in nine days for the rider on one of his uncle's second or third strings. Behind them were Lecky Watson who fell at the fifth, bringing down his stable companion Impaire Et Passe, while Mullins's other starter Il Atlantique crashed out at the 10th. 'With all the hard luck we had in the race between fallers and a horse being brought down it was great to see Danny getting into the picture at the third last and I said this fella has a chance if Ballyburn doesn't stay in front. Ballyburn just didn't jump well enough on the day,' Mullins said. Even in the bright sunshine it was a gloomy festival start for punters with the 22-1 winner of the first, Transprint, followed by Buy Some Time at 50-1 in the Albert Bartlett Series Final. The latter was a career highlight success for the Scottish father and son team of Mike and Ben Smith and when another cross-channel raider, Ascending Lark, won the following handicap, it had wags referring to a brief British lead in a Punchestown equivalent to Cheltenham's Prestbury Cup – a Kildare Cup perhaps! Bud Fox in the concluding bumper also justified some market strength, the point-to-point winner scoring under Derek O'Connor. The official day one festival crowd of 17,842 was an almost 1,500 increase on the equivalent 2024 figure of 16,361. There were two equine fatalities on the Tuesday programme. The English runner Kilta sustained fatal injuries in a fall at the first flight of the Albert Bartlett Series Final. Paddy Twomey's Eagle Of Destiny was pulled up in the straight when contending for the lead in the concluding bumper and was euthanised. Watering began again at Punchestown after racing on Tuesday evening.
