Huge Cheltenham Festival favourite Marine Nationale OUT as punters mourn ‘darkest day in history’ for ante-post betting
HUGE Cheltenham Festival favourite Marine Nationale is OUT, trainer Barry Connell has confirmed.
Bettors were left mourning ‘the darkest day in history for ante-post punters’ with the news last year’s Supreme winner would miss the Arkle.
PABig ante-post favourite Marine Nationale is out of the Arkle[/caption]
It came just hours after Nicky Henderson revealed Constitution Hill will also miss this year’s Festival.
It means day one of this year’s Festival – which starts next Tuesday – will be without two of its biggest stars.
And loads of punters can bin slips they have been sitting on for months with two horses who looked like bankers both out.
Marine Nationale had been odds-on to win the two-mile novice chase before his disastrous run at the Dublin Racing Festival last month.
Connell was certain that poor showing was down to the heavy ground on the day at Leopardstown.
Things looked to be turning in his favour with a dry forecast for this week at the home of jumps racing.
But the trainer told the Racing Post that a ‘suspensory strain’ has scuppered all hope of running.
And the seven-year-old gelding will miss all of the major spring festivals with an aim, hopefully, to returning next year.
Punters were absolutely gutted to learn another superstar won’t be running next week.
One wrote on X: “So that’s two of the favourites for the big races already out and there’s over a week to go. I can hear ante-post bets being torn up.”
Another said: “The darkest day in history for ante-post punters.”
While a fellow racing fan wrote: “Black Monday for the ante-post markets!”
More to follow.
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