Join

Connell criticises ‘Mickey Mouse’ Clarence House form

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Sun 18 Jan 2026

Barry Connell has branded Saturday’s Clarence House Chase as a “Mickey Mouse race”, and is confident Marine Nationale will successfully defend his title in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Marine Nationale lifted the two-mile chasing crown in sensational style in the Cotswolds last season, beating Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon by 18 lengths.

Connell was an interested observer of Saturday’s Ascot feature, which saw Jonbon claim victory for the second year in succession while hot favourite Il Etait Temps suffered a tired fall two fences home.

Speaking after saddling a winner at Thurles on Sunday, Connell said: “It was a Mickey Mouse race which was over-hyped, as it normally is.

“I can’t see any of those horses having a chance at Cheltenham in March – I couldn’t see it before the race and couldn’t see it afterwards either.

“I think if we jump a clear round, we win.”

Marine Nationale was narrowly denied by Solness on his seasonal reappearance at Leopardstown over Christmas and is being readied for a rematch with that rival at the Dublin Racing Festival in a fortnight’s time.

Connell added: “He is in savage form and was entitled to come out of the Christmas race a bit tired, as he had a lot of ground to make up following the early (second fence) mistake.

“He has bounced out of it brilliantly and we couldn’t have him in better shape now. We are greatly looking forward to the Dublin Racing Festival.”

Marine National is Paddy Power’s 6-4 favourite for the Champion Chase, with the Willie Mullins-trained Majborough next on the list at 9-2 and Il Etait Temps a 7-1 chance following his Ascot tumble.

Vincenzo gains reward for string of consistent efforts

Ghan team consider autumn options

Apostle on sprint trail

Bowen savours ‘redemption’ with Jonbon at Ascot

Ruby Walsh: My race-by-race guide to the 2022 Cheltenham Festival

Todays top offer

Get 1,000,000 Free Spins on J Cole

T&Cs Apply

18+ New customers only. Bet £10+ on pre-match accas with 4+ legs, min odds 3/1 (4.0) within 14 days of sign-up. Get 4x £5 Horse Racing Free Bets and 50 Free Spins, valid for 7 days on selected bets and games only. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org

Claim Now

Featured offers

Bet £10 & Get £30 in free bets

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

New Customers only. Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5 and £10 to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. 18+ Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org.

Testing JC

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

Bet £10 Get £20 in free bets + £10 Casino + money back if 2nd to SP fav EXTERNAL LINK ANCHORAnother LINK

Bet £10 get £40 in Free Bets

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

Bet £20 Get £40 in free bets with BetVictor

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

18+ New Customers only. Opt in, bet £20 on Horse Racing, 1/1+ odds in 7 days, no cash out. Get £40 in Free Bets on set markets valid 7 days. Debit Card / Apple Pay payments only. T&Cs apply. See below. begambleaware.org | Please Gamble Responsibly.

Bet £10 get £40 in Free Bets with Midnite

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

This is a test description for a Midnite offer etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc

Please bet responsibly

My Account

Home

Watch

Live

Replays

On Demand

Catch Up

Tv Schedule

RTV Play Schedule

Racecards

Today's Runners

Non-Runners

Tommorow's Runners

Racing Calendar

Results

Tips

Racing TV Tipsters

Nap Of The Day

News

All

Latest

Highlights

Columnists