Willie Mullins appears to be like to carry all of the aces in a mouthwatering Ladbrokes King George VI Chase, as each Gaelic Warrior and Reality To File have been declared in a discipline of eight for Kempton’s Boxing Day characteristic.
The Closutton duo fought out a terrific end to the John Durkan at Punchestown final month and are actually poised for an intriguing rematch.
Paul Townend makes the journey to accomplice Gaelic Warrior, with Mark Walsh doing the steering aboard Reality To File, whereas the Irish hand is strengthened by Joseph O’Brien’s Banbridge, with Sean Bowen choosing up the spare trip on final 12 months’s hero.
One other with a brand new man on board is final season’s runner-up Il Est Francais, with Harry Cobden taking on aboard the Kempton specialist who’s now educated by Tom George having dazzled on the monitor for his son Noel and Amanda Zetterholm within the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase in 2023. He lower a daring sight from the entrance when trying to make all within the King George 12 months in the past.
Each Nicky Henderson’s Jango Baie and Ben Pauling’s The Jukebox Man said their King George claims on the identical afternoon in November, with the previous displaying a lightning flip of foot when reappearing in model within the 1965 Chase at Ascot.
It was at Haydock the place The Jukebox Artificial his first look since scooping Grade One honours on this very Boxing Day card in 2024 and impressed goals of additional success on the Sunbury monitor for Pauling and enthusiastic proprietor Harry Redknapp with a formidable spherical of leaping.
Venetia Williams received this festive prize with Teeton Mill in 1998 and having seen each L’Homme Presse and Royale Pagaille run effectively in defeat lately, now saddles the on-song Djelo who has received each the Charlie Corridor after which Peterborough Chase decisively this time period.
The road-up is accomplished by Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies’ Grasp Chewy, with Gordon Elliott’s Croke Park the one one not declared from the 9 who went ahead from Saturday’s affirmation stage.
Six will line up within the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle, headed by Henderson’s unbeaten Sir Gino, present champion hurdler Golden Ace and the Sam Thomas-trained Celtic Dino.
Mullins runs Kitzbuhel reasonably than Jimmy Du Seuill within the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase in opposition to Salver and Wendigo.
