John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase
 QuinnBet
Grade 1, Punchestown 15:00
 €150,000 guaranteed,
5yo plus,
2m 3f 150y, Class 1 
Sunday 23rd November 2025

1 Gaelic Warrior 13/8
2 Fact To File 11/8F
3 Fastorslow 10/1
10 ran NR: Nick Rockett Distances: nk, 29l, 2½l
Time: 5m 6.50s (slow by 5.50s)

Gaelic Warrior edged a pulsating, stride-for-stride tussle with stablemate Fact To File to land a truly gripping race, the pair turning what had promised to be a strong renewal into a straight duel for the ages.

All eyes had been on Fact To File, bidding to retain his crown over this two-and-a-half-mile Grade One. Yet from the moment the tapes went up, it was clear Gaelic Warrior on his first outing since taking the Oaksey Chase at Sandown in the spring – was in no mood to ease himself back in. Paul Townend sent him on with intent, rolling into a searching gallop and stretching the field from the off, with Fact To File and Mark Walsh the only ones willing – or able – to give chase.

Fastorslow, another former John Durkan hero, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin were never sighted, leaving the race to the two Mullins heavyweights swinging for home. Fact To File loomed up menacingly, bridging the deficit and nudging to the front before the last, and for a moment it looked a formality. But Gaelic Warrior dug deep on the run-in, finding that extra scrap of resolve to claw his way back and snatch it by a neck in a finish that left the stands buzzing.

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.”

In the aftermath, the market responded swiftly: Gaelic Warrior shortened to 6-4 favourite (from 5-2) for the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, while Fact To File drifted to 11-2.

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.”

QuinnBet

John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Steeplechase
€150,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 2m 3f 150y, Class 1
10 ran
Going: Soft to Heavy

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1    Gaelic Warrior 7 11-12 W P Mullins Paul Townend 13/8
2 nk Fact To File 8 11-12 W P Mullins Mark Walsh 11/8F
3 29 Fastorslow 9 11-12 Martin Brassil J J Slevin 10/1
4 2½ Heart Wood 7 11-12 Henry De Bromhead Darragh O'Keeffe 10/1
5 21 Inothewayurthinkin 7 11-12 Gavin Cromwell Keith Donoghue 18/1
6 2¼ James Du Berlais 9 11-12 W P Mullins Danny Gilligan 50/1
7 11 Lecky Watson 7 11-12 W P Mullins Sean O'Keeffe 14/1
8 1¾ Grangeclare West 9 11-12 W P Mullins Brian Hayes 40/1
9 13 I Am Maximus 9 11-12 W P Mullins Mr Derek O'Connor 20/1
PU Senecia 8 11-12 Vincent Laurence Halley Sean Flanagan 150/1
NR 10 Nick Rockett 8 11-12 W P Mullins NON RUNNER