Sunday afternoon sees one of the most anticipated chase contests of the pre-Christmas period take place at Punchestown. Boasting a roll of honour littered with chasing greats, including Captain Christy, Dawn Run, Kicking King, and Don Cossack, the John Durkan Memorial Chase falls into the “not-to-be-missed” category.
Following the latest declaration stage on Tuesday, we look set for a blockbuster renewal in 2025. A solid 11 runners remain in contention, including two former winners of this race, the reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup and Aintree Grand National champions, and other proven Grade 1 stars.
Fact to File Favourite to Defend His Crown
With 10 previous wins, Willie Mullins is already the most successful trainer in the history of the John Durkan Memorial Chase. It would take a brave punter to bet against the Closutton maestro making it 11 in 2025. Of the 11 runners remaining in contention, no fewer than seven have the name Willie Mullins in the trainer column. That sort of quantity certainly helps but as ever, the quality isn’t bad either!
The pick of the bunch, at least according to the betting market, is the JP McManus-owned Fact To File. Touted as a potential Gold Cup contender following his win in the 2024 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, the Poliglote gelding then claimed the 2024 edition of this race on his first start in open company.
Subsequent defeats to Galopin Des Champs led to a Gold Cup rethink. However, Fact To File still showed his class at the Cheltenham Festival with a wide-margin win in the Ryanair Chase. He then failed to fire when dropped in trip for the Punchestown Champion Chase. Back up to a more suitable distance, he currently heads the market at a general price of just 4/5.
First Step Towards King George for Gaelic Warrior
Now seven years old, the Rich Ricci-owned Gaelic Warrior is among the most talented and versatile performers in the Mullins yard. Now a four-time Grade 1 winner, those victories have come over trips ranging from 2m right up to 3m1f.
Mentioned as one of the yard’s big King George hopes last season, Gaelic Warrior initially stuck to the 2m division, only to disappoint at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival and in the Dublin Chase. Returning in April, he rounded off his campaign with excellent wins in the Aintree Bowl (3m1f) and the Oaksey Chase (2m6½f). Those efforts suggest staying trips may suit him best these days. However, he has form over a range of trips and is only 3lb behind Fact To File on ratings. At a general 11/4, he is clear second favourite with most bookmakers.
Cromwell Thinkin’ of Another Gold Cup Triumph
As the reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup champ, Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin is the de facto king of the staying chase division. Sitting on a mark of 176, he is also the highest-rated runner in this field.
The fact that he sits only fourth in the market reflects the inadequate trip and his 36-length seventh in the 2024 edition of this. The return of the Gold Cup winner always grabs the attention, but history suggests Inothewayurthinkin may improve significantly for this comeback outing.
Brassil Star the Forgotten Horse of the Race?
Fact To File may head the betting, but he is not the only former John Durkan winner in the field. Also taking his place among the entries is the Martin Brassil-trained 2023 champ Fastorslow.
Having mastered Galopin Des Champs in this race and again in the Punchestown Gold Cup, Fastorslow started as the 6/4 favourite here in 2024. A laboured effort in fourth suggested something was amiss, and so it proved with Fastorslow missing the rest of the 2024/25 campaign with a soft tissue injury. The nine-year-old has a 364-day absence to defy, but can go well fresh, and that proven course and distance form counts for plenty.
Grand National Champs Among the Opposition
If all 11 runners stand their ground, Punchestown racegoers will see the past two Aintree Grand National winners in the flesh. For 2025 hero Nick Rockett, this would represent a first trip to Punchestown. The same is true for 2024 Aintree champ I Am Maximus, who went out on his shield when second in the 2025 Grand National.
Others to note among the stellar cast are 2025 Grand National third Grangeclare West, shock Brown Advisory Chase winner Lecky Watson, and Henry De Bromhead’s Heart Wood, who posted an impressive win in the BetVictor Chase on his recent return. This could be a real classic!