Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

There have been stories and drama. Cheltenham has the ability to do that. This victory was almost written in the stars. The Festival keeps going. It's amazing how this pressure cooker environment can do this to athletes.

Marine Nationale's trainer Barry Connell speaking to ITV Racing: "The fact that the horse hasn't got its credits since it won the Supremes, people forget it only had two runs last year. We were gradually planning a campaign, he's essentially a novice this year. He had three hurdles runs. He loves this place, he comes alive. We were confident today.

"That's what he's been showing us at home. He travels jumps, he's everything you want. I've been coming here since I was a student in the 1980s. This was the one race I wanted to win more than any. It won't sink in for a long time.

"The last three or four weeks have been horrendous. Michael and I went on a journey with this horse. I've asked racing historians, they haven't done what this horse has. It's devastating Michael is not with us, I'd like to dedicate this one to his and his girlfriend Charlotte.

"My heart goes out to his family, Charlotte and his friends. Racing has a great community."

Let's hear from Marine Nationale's trainer Barry Connell after a very emotional win.

The start of this race was unusual too - Solness rattling a fence before the start, which seemed to unsettle Jonbon. They were very slow at the start line too, almost a standing start.

Jonbon's jockey Nico de Boinville, speaking to ITV as he returned to the changing rooms, was very unhappy with the start and how close the horses got to the tape.

We've just seen a replay of Jonbon nearly unseating its rider with five fences to go. It was a horribly mistimed jump in a really difficult race for the favourite.

Just about everything went wrong for Jonbon in that race.

Gina Bryce
BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra at Cheltenham

I've been to many Cheltenham Festivals, it's the feature race on day two and it just feels sad.

It's an extraordinary situation and our hearts go out to the family. There is something incredible about this win today. Things had to stack up in his favour but they found a way to do so.

Andrew Thornton
Former jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

He's [Marine Nationale] done it here before. Horses up their game for this occasion. He's jumped supremely well going around. You know how invested the racing crowd can get. It's a sad occasion. I've been involved in racing all my life and lost friends and colleagues. I'm sure Michael [O'Sullivan] will be looking down.

A huge ovation for Marine Nationale as it enters the winners' enclosure.

Michael O'Sullivan's girlfriend Charlotte is among those in the circle to welcome the victor on a poignant day.

Marine Nationale's jockey Sean Flanagan speaking to ITV Racing: "Hugely emotional for a lot of reasons. His family find it very hard, jockeys in Ireland, England and around the world have been under a cloud in the last couple of weeks. I'm just the man on him today, Michael made him what he is.

"Every race is a race by race ride. I'm just lucky I can come here. I'm only drafted in late on, the work was already done."

Darren Owen
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Marine Nationale was of course a Cheltenham Festival winner for Michael O'Sullivan, who is in our thoughts.

Last month, racing tragically lost a young talent when jockey Michael O'Sullivan died following a fall aged just 24.

Today Marine Nationale, the horse O'Sullivan rode to victory at Cheltenham two years ago, has won one of the festival's major events with Sean Flanagan wearing the same colours O'Sullivan did.

An emotional victory. After skilfully leading Marine Nationale home, Flanagan raised his arms aloft and looked to the sky.

1 Marine Nationale (S W Flanagan) 5-1

2 Jonbon (N de Boinville) 5-6 Fav

3 Captain Guinness (Rachael Blackmore) 25-1

8 ran

Frank Keogh
BBC Sport at Cheltenham

Image source, Getty Images

Marine Nationale won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival two years ago for jockey Michael O'Sullivan, the Irish jockey who died after a fall last month.

An impressive run by Marine Nationale, who cleared the final fence with style and streaked away to the end.

Quilixios, who was on Marine Nationale's flank, fell at the last.

Jonbon recovered to finish second.

Image source, Reuters

Marine Nationale, the second-favourite, leads.

Jonbon is well back.

Andrew Thornton
Former jockey on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Jonbon has blundered badly but he's still going. He's now having to play catch up.

Three to jump, and Jonbon is continuing.

Libberty Hunter has fallen.

Five to go... and Jonbon makes a big mistake!

The favourite caught that fence heavily and is now dead last.

Solness does not seem too impacted by that earlier mishap, and has taken the lead.

Energumene though jumps the seventh well and moves back in front.

Two-time winner Energumene is the early leader. Jonbon fourth currently.