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Punchestown: Gaelic Warrior holds off Fact to File in dramatic John Durkan

Updated / Sunday, 23 Nov 2025 16:40

Gaelic Warrior got the better of a pulsating duel with stablemate Fact To File to win an epic renewal of the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase.

Fact To File was the 11-8 favourite to successfully defend his crown in what looked another stellar running of the two-and-a-half-mile Grade One, with fellow Willie Mullins-trained star Gaelic Warrior rated his biggest threat at 13-8 on his first start since winning the Oaksey Chase at Sandown in the spring.

Gaelic Warrior and Paul Townend blew the race apart from an early stage, going a strong gallop in front from the outset and quickly building up a significant lead over the chasing pack, with Fact To File always his nearest pursuer in the hands of Mark Walsh.

While another previous John Durkan winner in Fastorslow and Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Inothewayurthinkin never threatened to get involved, the big two settled down to fight it out from the home turn and although Fact To File looked likely to prevail after bridging the gap and briefly hitting the front on the approach to the final fence, Gaelic Warrior found more on the run-in and got back up to win a thriller by a neck.

Mullins said: "It was a hell of a horse race and it was a pity someone had to lose, but both horses gave their all and it was just a bob of a head.

"Fact To File looked all over a winner coming down to the last and Gaelic Warrior just found more reserves. Paul said he was just so free and well in himself; he just wanted to gallop and jump.

"Paul said he was a passenger most of the way and out over the first two fences he didn't have much say in the matter. He was able to get a breather into him at the fourth-last and maybe after the third-last, which gave him a little bit of powder coming down to the last.

"Paul said he didn’t look around and just kept sitting and tried to get as much air into him as he could for one final effort and it paid off."

Gaelic Warrior is Paddy Power’s 6-4 favourite (from 5-2) for the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, with Fact To File an 11-2 shot.

Mullins added: "I’m not going to say anything here now (about future plans), but we’ll look to have something in the King George and something in the Savills Chase in Leopardstown.

"We’ll see how they recover and how they come out of the race. It’s only five weeks away."


Westport Cove rallied bravely to deny odds-on favourite Fleur In The Park victory in the Matchbook Betting Exchange Craddockstown Novice Chase.

The top two in the market had the Grade Two contest between them rounding the home turn, with 9-4 chance Westport Cove and Paul Townend leading 10-11 shot Fleur In The Park and Cian Quirke as they faced up to jump the second fence from home.

Andrew Slattery's Fleur In The Park soon took over and looked the most likely winner after kicking a couple of lengths clear on the approach to the last, but a slow leap gave the Willie Mullins-trained Westport Cove a glimmer of hope and he finished off the stronger to win a thrilling duel by a neck.

Mullins said: "He fought back bravely after a mistake at the second-last. He jumped the last well and is a very sharp jumper.

"I said 'well done’ to Paul and he said ‘I hadn’t much to do with it’. The horse gallops, and once the tape goes down he’s gone.

"I haven’t any plan made, and I wasn’t sure that he’d handle this ground. The fact that he’s won on it is a big bonus and we may plan to stay training him for the winter. We might find something for him in the new year."

Paul Nolan was thrilled to see Feet Of A Dancer secure an overdue big-race victory in the Frontline Security Grabel Mares Hurdle at Punchestown.

The six-year-old had been placed at Listed level on three previous occasions and last season finished fourth in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival before picking up the bronze medal in a Grade Two at Fairyhouse.

Making her first appearance since that effort on Easter Monday, Feet Of A Dancer was 7-2 shot in the hands of Sean O'Keeffe and pulled clear in the straight to claim Listed gold by nine lengths. Mozzies Sister filled the runner-up spot, with 5-6 favourite Fun Fun Fun only fourth.

Nolan said: "She’s a good mare and I’m delighted for Cathy (Byrne, owner). Phil (Byrne’s late husband) is looking down on us. He was a great fella and you can see how much this means to Cathy.

"Phil was with us from the very start and unfortunately he died suddenly last year. It was a horrendous blow for Cathy and the family. He was a brilliant musician himself and called this mare after a song. He owned Sean’s Bar in Athlone.

"This mare was a bit unlucky in the Pertemps at Cheltenham last March but she has large black type now, which is brilliant."

Desertmore House (3-1) recorded his first win in the cross-country sphere in the Colm Quinn BMW Risk Of Thunder Chase, beating 9-4 favourite The Goffer by four lengths under Ricky Doyle.

Winning trainer Martin Brassil said: "He loves it now. It was his first (cross-country) run here in the La Touche in the spring and he was good (finished second).

"We had him here the other day just for a pop around and he was looking for the next obstacle. He was just attacking the whole thing, and I thought he’d run a big race today.

"We’ll probably aim for Cheltenham in the spring and I’d say he’ll love it around there too."

Champagne Kid was a 14-1 winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle, while Kotkito Bello struck at 7-2 in the Donohue Marquees Novice Handicap Hurdle.

Gordon Elliott’s Staffordshire Knot (11-2) landed the Pertemps Network Group Handicap Hurdle, with 5lb claimer Carl Millar doing the steering.

"To be honest he’s been disappointing. He came with a bit of a reputation, but I don’t think he was right last year. He never held his condition or looked great all year and this year he looks a lot better," said Elliott.

"He looks a happier horse now and I wouldn’t rule out ever going back over fences.

"He’s qualified for the race (Pertemps Final) and I’d imagine he’ll go there."

12 March 2025; Sortudo, with Danny Mullins up, jumps the last during The Weatherbys Champion Bumper on day two of the Cheltenham Racing Festival at Prestbury Park in Cheltenham, England. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Meanwhile, high-class bumper performer Sortudo (above) made an impressive start to his jumping career with an assured victory at Cork.

A winner on his debut under rules at Tramore 12 months ago, the Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old went on to fill the runner-up spot in a Grade Two event at Leopardstown's Dublin Racing Festival before finishing seventh in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.

Having rounded off last season with a spring success at Fairyhouse, Sortudo was an 8-15 favourite for his reappearance in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle and he pulled eight and a half lengths clear of the long-absent Jalon d’Oudairies, who was making his first competitive appearance since finishing third in the 2024 Champion Bumper.

Of Sortudo, winning jockey Danny Mullins said: "He had very good bumper form and had schooled well at home. He jumped well all through the race but was alone in front when he just had a look at the final hurdle.

"I rode him in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham when he gave me a great feel. His introduction today was over two miles and he didn’t lack speed. He has matured well and going further wouldn’t be out of the question for him either – that will be one of the usual conundrums for Willie to decide over next.

"You’d imagine Christmas could now be a target and that’ll decide the bigger spring targets."

The Mullins duo were widely expected to complete a double in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase, but 2-7 favourite Jade De Grugy could only finish a lacklustre third as 7-2 shot Kala Conti ran out an emphatic winner for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy.

Minella Academy also justified odds-on favouritism in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Academy Hurdle.

A 4-5 shot for his racecourse bow, John Nallen’s youngster was up with the pace throughout and he was eight lengths in front at the line under Daniel King.

King doubled up in the following Join Racing TV Now With A Free Trial Maiden Hurdle aboard Grey Jude (5-2), trained by the rider’s brother Connor. The victory rounded off an excellent weekend for the siblings following Oscars Brother’s Grade Two triumph in Saturday’s Florida Pearl Novice Chase at Punchestown.

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