King George: Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File set for rematch

All the major contenders have stood their ground in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, live on Racing TV, with a mouthwatering second clash of the season between stablemates Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File in store.

The pair met in the John Durkan at Punchestown when Gaelic Warrior set a lung-busting gallop and was headed just before the last but battled back gamely to win.

He will be stepping back up to three miles having won the Bowl at Aintree over a similar trip in April for Willie Mullins.

Fact To File looked imperious in the Ryanair at Cheltenham but was well beaten over two miles at Punchestown afterwards and now goes back up to three having come up short behind another stable companion, Galopin Des Champs, twice at that trip.

It is far from a two-horse race, however, with Nicky Henderson’s Arkle winner Jango Baie a serious contender.

He looked to be crying out for three miles when winning on his return to action at Ascot.

In-form Ben Pauling has been aiming The Jukebox Man at the race ever since he won the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at the meeting 12 months ago but injury has restricted him to just one run since, a win at Haydock.

Last year’s first and second, Banbridge and Il Est Francais, are back once more but do not arrive in the same sort of form as last season.

Venetia Williams’ Djelo has won the Charlie Hall and the Peterborough Chase this term and cannot be ignored, while Croke Park and Master Chewy have also been confirmed leaving nine.

The Mullins pair can not be split by Coral, who make them 5-2 joint-favourites followed by Jango Baie at 100-30.

“We can’t split Fact To File and Gaelic Warrior at the head of our betting with both on track for Kempton and a King George of the highest quality, reflected by last year’s one-two, Banbridge and Il Est Francais, being among the outsiders this time around at 14-1 and 20-1 respectively,” said Coral’s David Stevens.

In the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase Mullins has entered both Jimmy du Seuil and Kitzbuhel, who both have the option of running at Limerick two days later.

Gary Moore’s Salver and the Jamie Snowden-trained Wendigo have reached as decent standard already this season for the home team, as has Paul Nicholls’ Blueking d’Oroux who is also among eight possibles.