"We're just going to be out of time" - Marine Nationale ruled out of Champion Chase defence
Marine Nationale, the reigning Champion Chase titleholder, will not be defending his crown at this year's Cheltenham Festival due to injury. Despite Barry Connell's high hopes and confidence in Marine Nationale's abilities, a neck issue has led to his withdrawal. With this development, bookmakers have adjusted their odds, making Majborough the new favorite at 4/5, with L'Eau Du Sud and Il Etait Temps following. This shift opens the field significantly, reshuffling the expected outcomes for the prestigious race.
- Marine Nationale out of 2026 Champion Chase due to neck injury
- Connell remains optimistic but bookmakers shift odds
- Majborough becomes favorite; reshuffle in race dynamics
Marine Nationale will not defend his Champion Chase crown at Cheltenham next week, after he was ruled out through injury.
Barry Connell has been his usual bullish self in the build-up to the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. Connell was full of confidence regarding Marine Nationale's chances in last year's Champion Chase, and the former Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner went on to secure an emphatic victory.
Even a lengthy defeat to Majborough at the Dublin Racing Festival didn't alter Connell's belief that his two-time Cheltenham winner was the best two-mile chaser in the land. However, Connell was struck with a bitter blow on Tuesday, as he was forced to rule his stable star out of the meeting.
"He was very sore through his neck this morning." Connell told the Racing Post. "We had the vets in this morning and they put him on pain relief medication and we're just going to be out of time with withdrawal times."
Marine Nationale's withdrawal has led to most bookmaker installing Majborough as the odds-on favourite. Willie Mullins' star was beaten at 1/2 in last season's Arkle, and bet365 now list Majborough as their 4/5 favourite for the 2026 Queen Mother.
L'Eau Du Sud now sits second in the market, ahead of Majborough's stablemate Il Etait Temps. Quilixios - who hasn't run since a late fall when challenging Marine Nationale 12 months ago - is available at a single-figure price. Jonbon, Thistle Ask and Solness all had their odds cut on Tuesday.
2026 Champion Chase betting with bet365
4/5 Majborough, 10/3 L'Eau Du Sud, 9/2 Il Etait Temps, 7/1 Quilixios, 10/1 Jonbon, 16/1 Bar
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