Many racing fans believe the three-mile trip is the pinnacle of the National Hunt; a catalogue of Grade 1 renewals ultimately feeding into the prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup towards the end of the season.
One of the most eye-catching prep races for the Gold Cup is the King George VI Chase, the Kempton showpiece held every Boxing Day that has coronated some of the finest three-milers in the business.
A number of King George champions have gone on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup too, so all eyes will be on Gaelic Warrior and Fact to File as they look set to do battle at Kempton this festive period.
Christmas Cracker
The ante post racing betting market for the King George is open, with Gaelic Warrior (5/2) and Fact to File (9/2) leading the way as per the odds-makers.
The horse racing results in the early months of the season will determine if either, or both, of the Willie Mullins stablemates had to Kempton Park on December 26. An outing in the John Durkan Memorial Chase could well be the target, with Fact to File landing that particular renewal last year in impressive fashion.
Galopin Des Champs, the two-time Gold Cup champion, is also a former John Durkan winner, so the December race has proven to be an excellent proving ground for Mullins ahead of the Cheltenham extravaganza – it’s possible that he could take both Fact to File and Gaelic Warrior to Punchestown.
Of the pair, there are more answers than questions about Gaelic Warrior, the powerhouse who signed off on his 2024/25 campaign with two big wins at a trip of around three miles.
Gaelic Warrior and Patrick Mullins after winning the Bowl on day one of the Grand National Festival at Aintree pic.twitter.com/UxRVZ7emFt
— PA Racing (@PAracing) April 3, 2025
After the decision was taken to skip the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, Gaelic Warrior returned with a bang at the Aintree meeting in April, landing the Grade 1 Bowl ahead of the talented Grey Dawning.
The seven-year-old followed up with a five-length victory in the Oaksey Chase, so his credentials at the distance are assured – Gaelic Warrior looks set for a stellar three-mile season, which could see Mullins point him at the King George-Gold Cup double.
Questioning the Facts
Quite how Fact to File’s season will shape up is something of a mystery.
He won the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival over three miles, but has only occasionally been tested over the trip since – both outings ending in defeat to stablemate Galopin Des Champs.
This horse is really good… FACT! ✅
Fact To File cruises to Brown Advisory victory 👏 pic.twitter.com/8bBAlwVXAg
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 13, 2024
Mullins threw something of a curveball in declaring Fact to File for the two-mile Punchestown Champion Chase in April, but a tame effort there – he finished around 38 lengths adrift of the winner, Marine Nationale – suggests that that experiment was a failure.
On a Closutton stable tour in October, the Irish champion trainer described Fact to File as a ‘Ryanair [Chase] or Gold Cup type’, so a return to three miles seems the most likely outcome – as does a run-out in the King George this December.
“We think the King George would be a lovely race for him and he is one of a few of ours that are in the mix for that,” Mullins confirmed.
So, the scene is set for a Christmas cracker: make a note in your festive TV scheduling for Gaelic Warrior vs Fact to File in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.