Ballykelly Stud

Even before Marine Nationale (Ire) (French Navy {GB}) won the G1 Supreme Novices' Hurdle two years ago, John B O'Connor was already a Cheltenham Festival-winning breeder courtesy of the smart Paul Webber-trained mare Indefatigable (Ire) (Schiaparelli {Ger}). On Wednesday, the impressive record of O'Connor's Ballykelly Stud was enhanced further when Marine Nationale completed an emotional double for trainer Barry Connell to win the G1 Queen Mother Champion Chase. O'Connor had been observing a dry January and February but admitted to a "damp March" at his Tipperary home after toasting the...