Sean Flanagan led Marine NATIONAL to an emotional victory in the champion of the Queen Mother Chase at the Cheltenham Festival while the favorite Jonbon failed.
Jonbon (4-1) had to win the victory in coach JP Mcmanus, but he struggled immediately after a very disorderly start and, when he slammed the fifth fence, his hopes of victory had essentially disappeared.
Navy (5-1) entered the final closure just ahead of Quilixios (40-1) and, when the latter fell, it allowed Jockey Sean Flanagan to point from the sky when he claimed a triumph that will live in the folklore of Cheltenham.
It is a victory that occurs a little less than a month after the tragic death of Jockey Michael O’Sullivan at the age of 24. O’Sullivan died on February 16 after serious injuries suffered during a fall in Thurles.
O’Sullivan led Marine nationale to the victory in the Hurdle of the novices Supreme in 2023, and the eight -year -old proven his quality again with Flanagan in saddle, while the recovery journey of Nico de Boinville saw Jonbon taking second place.
The most poignant of the winners!
French Marine wins the champion Betmgm Queen Mother Chase 🏆#Itvracing | #Cheltenhamfestival | @ Swflanagan7 pic.twitter.com/dn2kqlsj5
– ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 12, 2025
“He did what he is”
O’Sullivan’s girlfriend, Charlotte, was present in Cheltenham, having spent time in the stable with the horse with which her late partner had such a clear connection in the week.
And Flanagan and coach Barry Connell paid tribute to O’Sullivan after a victory that seemed written in the stars.
“It’s extremely emotional for many reasons,” Flanagan told ITV. “His family finds it very difficult, jockeys in Ireland, England and the world have been under a cloud in the past two weeks.
“Michael. It’s for you”
Sean Flanagan pays tribute to Michael O’Sullivan, who won this race on the French Navy two years ago #Itvracing | #Cheltenhamfestival | @ Swflanagan7 | @AlIceptlUNKETT pic.twitter.com/jexnzbef4l
– ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 12, 2025
“Michael is the man who made him what he is, he has never really forgotten him for that.”
Connell added: “He will not sink long. The last three or four weeks have been horrible.
“Michael and I made a trip with this horse. It is devastating Michael is not with us.
“I would like to dedicate this victory to Michael and his girlfriend Charlotte. Our hearts go to Michael and his family. I hope it is an appropriate end. »»
De Boinville exploded horrible start
Jonbon ended up with a huge amount of terrain to catch up after having almost unleashed Boinville.
But the damage was caused at the start. After an initial false start, Jonbon fled very slowly and never really looked like to catch up, with his possible finalists completed the product of errors in front of him.
“Horrible”
Nico de Boinville was not satisfied from the beginning, in which the band was under the junbon nose #Itvracing | #Cheltenhamfestival | @Mcyeeehaaa pic.twitter.com/alls8ykjvo
– ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 12, 2025
In brief comments to ITV, Boinville made his irritation on how the departure was clearly manipulated.
“I don’t blame anyone, but he didn’t like the band under his nose,” said Debinville.
“”[The start was] horrible.
Jazzy Matty does it the magic double
It was already an incredibly poignant day after the victory of the French Navy, but Jazzy Matty did it doubly by prevailing in the great annual pursuit.
The unexpected party led to the turn, but 15-2, Jazzy Matty came to win the victory, just as he did in 2023 in the handicap of Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap with O’Sullivan in the saddle.
With the two horses that won the same day with O’Sullivan in Cheltenham two years ago, emerging triumphant only a few weeks after his death, Jockey by Jazzy Matty, Danny Gilligan, summed him up beautifully.
“I think we all know that there is someone very special who looks at us today,” he told ITV after crossing the line.
“We all know that someone very special is looking at us today” ♥ ️#Itvracing | #Cheltenhamfestival | @ Dannygilligan8 | @AlIceptlUNKETT pic.twitter.com/uv7d1izcg
– ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 12, 2025
Earlier in the day, the new lion (3-1) extended its undefeated race to five races by winning the Turner’s Novices Hurdle, giving McManus its 80th Victory of Cheltenham.
Lecky Watson (20-1) was a surprise winner for coach Willie Mullins in the pursuit of Novices Brown Advisory. Mullins then saw another foreigner, Jimmy du Seuil (16-1), claim the Coral Cup.
Topweight and favorite Stomptown (5-2) gave Jockey Keith Donoghue a fifth record success in the chase of Cross Country Glenfarclas.
