Confirmed runners and riders for the 2025 King George VI Chase at Kempton
Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File rematch is on; Sir Gino to face five rivals in Christmas Hurdle
Willie Mullins has declared both Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File in what promises to be a Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (2.30) for the ages.
Fact To File, who will be ridden by Mark Walsh, was subject to an alarming drift yesterday, with some bookmakers pushing him out to as big as 8-1 before he returned to around 7-2 within the hour.
He is bidding to give JP McManus a first win in the historic race, which has eluded the owner in previous years, but he will have to reverse form with Gaelic Warrior.
Gaelic Warrior came out on top when the pair met in the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown just over a month ago, winning by a neck, and he heads the market for the Boxing Day showpiece, with Paul Townend booked to ride.
Gordon Elliott's Croke Park was the only one of nine entries not declared on Tuesday morning.
Jango Baie will lead the British contingent as he looks to follow up an eye-catching seasonal return at Ascot, when he won by nine lengths. The Nicky Henderson-trained star tackles three miles for the first time, but it is a trip that is widely regarded as one that will bring out the best in him. Henderson has won the race three times previously, most recently with Might Bite in 2017.
The British challenge is further bolstered by last season’s Kauto Star Novices’ Chase winner The Jukebox Man. Trainer Ben Pauling and owner Harry Redknapp have always held the gelding in the highest regard, with the latter likening this contest to a “cup final”.
Last year’s winner Banbridge faces a tougher task this time and could finish only fourth on his seasonal reappearance, 29 lengths behind the winner Found A Fifty in the Hilly Way Chase. There is, however, an appealing boost from the booking of champion jockey Sean Bowen, who will partner the Joseph O’Brien runner for the first time.
Il Est Francais, who won the Kauto Star Novices' Chase on this card in 2023 before finishing behind Banbridge in last year’s King George, lines up again and has the eye-catching booking of Harry Cobden, who has won on two of his seven rides in the King George.
The Venetia Williams yard has begun to click into gear this month and their representative is the classy Djelo, with stable jockey Charlie Deutsch in the saddle.
Completing the line-up is a big outsider in the Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies-trained Master Chewy.
Blockbuster scarcely does this line-up justice. With quality spread throughout the field, it is a King George you will not want to miss.
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King George VI Chase confirmed runners and riders
Banbridge Sean Bowen
Djelo Charlie Deutsch
Fact To File Mark Walsh
Gaelic Warrior Paul Townend
Il Est Francais Harry Cobden
Jango Baie Nico de Boinville
Master Chewy Sam Twiston-Davies
The Jukebox Man Ben Jones
Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (2.30 Kempton, Friday)
Ladbrokes: 5-2 Gaelic Warrior, 11-4 Fact To File, Jango Baie, 13-2 The Jukebox Man, 14 Djelo, 16 Banbridge, 18 Il Est Francais, 125 Master Chewy.
Sir Gino to take on five in Christmas Hurdle
Sir Gino will make his highly anticipated return to the track, 364 days after his demolition of Ballyburn in the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at this venue.
Last February, when favourite for the Arkle, he was ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering an infection in the ligaments in his near-hind leg. He has since made a full recovery and is an odds-on favourite to win on his return in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (1.55).
Heading the list of dangers is Golden Ace, victorious in the Fighting Fifth last time when both The New Lion and Constitution Hill fell. That was her second Grade 1 success after winning a dramatic Champion Hurdle in March. She receives a 7lb mares’ allowance and will be ridden by Lorcan Williams.
Sir Gino's ownermate Anzadam, who chased home Golden Ace at Newcastle, was not declared.
Paul Nicholls runs Rubaud, with Harry Cobden on board, while Fergal O’Brien saddles Tripoli Flyer, who returns to hurdles after starting the season with two chase outings.
Sam Thomas's Celtic Dino is back in action after chasing home Wodhooh at Ascot last time, while the field is completed by Gary and Josh Moore's Give It To Me Oj.
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Rest of Kempton and Aintree
The Jamie Snowden-trained Wendigo will be ridden by Gavin Sheehan in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (1.20), with the pair looking to end a record-breaking few months on a high and give the trainer his second Grade 1 success.
He will have to get the better of the Willie Mullins-trained Kitzbuhel, who made a successful chasing debut at Punchestown last month and will be ridden by Paul Townend.
Gary and Josh Moore will be hoping Salver can give the training team their first Grade 1 since Josh joined his father on the licence, with Caoilin Quinn taking the ride.
Blueking D’Oroux, trained by Paul Nicholls, will be looking to take a step forward from his Grade 2 win at Wincanton last month. Thomas Mor and Crest Of Fortune complete the line-up.
At Aintree, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle ante-post favourite Mydaddypaddy is in action, and he represents Dan Skelton’s best chance of finishing the year with Grade 1 glory in the William Hill Formby Novices’ Hurdle (1.05).
He takes on seven rivals including Harry Fry's Champion Bumper sixth Idaho Sun, who is a perfect two from two over hurdles this season. Nicky Henderson's Act Of Innocence, an impressive winner on his stable debut at Newbury last month, was a notable omission.
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