A record field of 13 was declared for the headline event of the 2026 Dublin Racing Festival. Scheduled to take place in its traditional Saturday slot, the effects of Storm Chandra pushed the three-mile Grade 1 race back a couple of days to Monday.
Willie Mullins’ wealth of talent in the staying chase division was firmly in evidence, with eight of the 13 runners hailing from his Closutton operation. Three-time champ Galopin Des Champs led the way, with the mount of Paul Townend bidding to join former Mullins star Florida Pearl on four wins.
The biggest threats to Galopin Des Champs came from within his own yard. Gaelic Warrior arrived on the back of a fine third-place finish in the King George VI Chase. Fact To File was only sixth in that Kempton contest, but was a three-time winner at the track and showed his class when running away with the Ryanair Chase.
The only other runners available at single-figure prices were 2024 Grand National winner I Am Maximus and Noel Meade’s Savills Chase hero Affordale Fury.
The standout name among the outsiders was Gavin Cromwell’s Cheltenham Gold Cup king Inothewayurthinkin. Undoubtedly talented, jockey bookings suggested he was JP McManus’s second string on the day.
Result
- 1st – Fact To File 9/2, Jockey: Mark Walsh, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 2nd – Gaelic Warrior 4/1, Jockey: Mr P W Mullins, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 3rd – Galopin Des Champs 15/8F, Jockey: Paul Townend, Trainer: Willie Mullins
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – €140,000
- 2nd – €47,500
- 3rd – €22,500
- 4th – €10,000
- 5th – €5,000
- 6th – €2,500
- 7th – €1,250
- 8th – €1,250
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – €5.50
- Tote Places – 1st – €1.80, 2nd – €1.80, 3rd – €1.30
- Exacta – €19.90
- Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – €23.26
- Trifecta – €56.70
- Tricast – €46.09
Recap
Just as he had in the Savills Chase, Affordale Fury set out to make the running under Donagh Meyler. Galopin Des Champs looked steady in second over the first fence, followed through by Monty’s Star, the sole mare in the field, Spindleberry, and Fact To File. Gaelic Warrior raced in mid-division in the opening exchanges.
There was little change in the order for much of the first circuit as Affordale Fury continued to bowl along in front. Galopin Des Champs continued to travel well in second at the halfway stage, while Fact To File and Monty’s Star looked smooth. Gaelic Warrior, meanwhile, moved up to take closer order. Further back in the field, Inothewayurthinkin was losing ground at the fences, while Lecky Watson began to backtrack following a glaring error at the sixth.
Turning into the back straight, Affordale Fury, Galopin Des Champs, Monty’s Star, Gaelic Warrior, and Fact To File had opened up a five-length gap to the rest of the field. There was still some way to go, but it appeared that the winner would emerge from this quintet.
Four from the finish, it became clear that Affordale Fury was running out of gas. As the long-time leader weakened, Galopin Des Champs, Fact To File, and Monty’s Star swept by in a wave of three across the track. Gaelic Warrior moved into fourth around three lengths off the leading trio.
Monty’s Star – a 40/1 shot – nosed ahead over the second last, just in front of Fact To File to his inside, with Galopin Des Champs a length back in third. Off the home turn, Fact To File travelled much the best. Galopin Des Champs, Monty’s Star, and a staying on Gaelic Warrior were all vigorously ridden, while the mount of Mark Walsh cruised around the bend.
Quickly opening up a three-length advantage, Fact To File safely negotiated the last and stayed on resolutely to score by a comfortable five lengths. Gaelic Warrior did best of the rest to take second, with Galopin Des Champs a further three and a half lengths behind and just holding Firefox for third.
It turned out to be a 1-2-3 for the incredible Willie Mullins, who won the race for the fifteenth time, and a second Irish Gold Cup for Mark Walsh and a fifth for owner JP McManus.
Runners
- 1. Affordale Fury – SP: 8/1, Trainer: Noel Meade, Jockey: Donagh Meyler
- 2. Champ Kiely – SP: 66/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: J J Slevin
- 3. Fact To File – SP: 9/2, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Mark Walsh
- 4. Firefox – SP: 33/1, Trainer: Gordon Elliott, Jockey: Sean Bowen
- 5. Gaelic Warrior – SP: 4/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Mr P W Mullins
- 6. Galopin Des Champs – SP: 15/8F, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Paul Townend
- 7. Grangeclare West – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Brian Hayes
- 8. I Am Maximus – SP: 9/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Jack Kennedy
- 9. Inothewayurthinkin – SP: 16/1, Trainer: Gavin Cromwell, Jockey: Keith Donoghue
- 10. Lecky Watson – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Sean O’Keeffe
- 11. Monty’s Star – SP: 40/1, Trainer: Henry de Bromhead, Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe
- 12. Stellar Story – Non-Runner
- 13. Spindleberry – SP: 11/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Danny Mullins
Non-Runners
Stellar Story (unsuitable ground)