Sean Flanagan revved up for ‘Ferrari’ Marine Nationale

Sean Flanagan is counting down the days until he gets back on his “Ferrari” Marine National in the Bar One Racing Fortria Chase at Navan on November 15.

Flanagan was in the saddle for his victories in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham and the equivalent race at the Punchestown Festival.

His owner and trainer Barry Connell has earmarked the Fortria as his starting point for the season, and speaking at the launch of the Navan Racing Festival Flanagan was full of praise for Connell and his team.

“A big credit goes to Barry and the lads, he stepped up so much from every run. From his first to his second, then to the Dublin Racing Festival and I was thinking how much more was there to come but they were confident there was plenty and they were right,” said Flanagan.

“What came after Cheltenham didn’t really matter, but did he marginally step up on that again at Punchestown? I think he might have.

“I’ve ridden graded winners over three miles but on this fella over two, I literally felt like I was driving a Ferrari, it felt like I was just hacking everywhere.

“He does put the shimmies up you for about 15 strides when you ask him and he doesn’t go straight away, but then you are away. In Punchestown that really showed as at the third last I was after him but by the second-last he was back on the bridle.

“The Arkle horses have to step up, we’re at the top table, he needs to prove nothing and he has to be taken off the pedestal (by the others), he’s going with his head held high.

“I think Navan will be right up his street. He’s not massively ground dependent, but you wouldn’t want him running round on heavy ground.”

Connell has another top-class performer in his ranks in Supreme Novices’ Hurdle second William Munny, who stays over timber this season.

“Finny (Maguire) rode him in two maiden hurdles and to be honest he’s far from simple. He obviously took something from those and I ended up on him and it fell into place from what they’d learned about him,” said Flanagan.

“Going for the Supreme so soon after winning at Punchestown (February 20) was far from a perfect preparation, but he looked like a lad who had plenty of runs.

“At Punchestown he blew them away after the last and it’s probably a good call to stay hurdling as he’d probably meet the horse who beat him at Cheltenham if you go the Arkle route.

“I briefly thought we’d get to Kopek Des Bordes and if he hadn’t run so soon who knows, but I couldn’t put anyone off him for the Champion Hurdle. He’s a fine big horse and he’s definitely going to come forward this year.”