Willie Mullins has won nine of the last 12 editions of the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown including with Fact To File 12 months ago. Such is the embarrassment of riches at his Closutton stables that he saddles seven of the 11 runners in the almost 2m 4f Grade 1 contest on Sunday, 23 November.
Chief among the Mullins mounts and leading the battalion is defending champ and Cheltenham Festival winner Fact To File. One of three in the race for leading Irish owner JP McManus, the assembled field is stellar in terms of quality. In top-level steeplechases in the Emerald Isle, there’s no hiding place even if Galopin Des Champs misses his intended reappearance here.
Fact To File didn’t even bother running over hurdles after his bumper campaign. He went chasing straight away and, after three wins from four starts as a novice, landed the John Durkan Chase on reappearance 12 months ago. On that day, Fact To File had 2024 Fairyhouse Gold Cup hero Spillane’s Tower, the mighty Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow, successful here in 2023 and not seen since, in behind him.
Subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Inothewayurthinkin was also down the field. Galopin Des Champs reversed Punchestown form with Fact To File in both the Savills Chase over Christmas and Irish Gold Cup during the Dublin Racing Festival around Leopardstown, however. He’s not unbeatable by any means, but bounced back to form with an impressive nine-length victory over re-opposing Heart Wood in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.
Although Fact To File finished his last campaign with a disappointing fourth in the Punchestown Champion Chase, dropping back in trip was against him. This intermediate distance appeared optimum for the eight-year-old Poliglote gelding despite his earlier wins in an Irish Point and extended bumper.
Gaelic Warrior, Lecky Watson Fit John Durkan Chase Age Profile
Six of the last nine winners of this have been seven-year-olds. That brings two more Mullins mounts who are past course and distance winners into contention. Old Cheltenham favourite Gaelic Warrior announced himself as a chaser with a breath-taking bow over fences here two years ago. Rich & Susannah Ricci’s son of Maxios routed Inothewayurthinkin by 15 lengths.
Subsequent Grade 1 novice chase wins around Limerick over Il Etait Temps and confirming that form in the 2024 Arkle when Found A Fifty split the pair don’t look too shabby either. Both of Gaelic Warrior’s rivals from 2023-24 have won recently, so it’s strong back form. He couldn’t seem to go the pace in two-mile races last season, so longer trips brought about progress in the spring.
The suspicion is the John Durkan Chase distance is the bare minimum for Gaelic Warrior now. He does have strong stayers to take on now, including yet another stable companion in Lecky Watson. This Valirann gelding beat 2024 Supreme scorer Slade Steel first time out over fences, then followed-up in a Grade 3 contest here in January. Lecky Watson then pulled off a shock Cheltenham result, landing the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at 20/1.
Ballyburn beaten! 😲
Lecky Watson produces an upset at 20/1 in the Brown Advisory 👏 pic.twitter.com/FtUS1gY1Pa
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 12, 2025
He fell too early in the long distance Champion Novice Chase during the Punchestown Festival last time to know what would’ve happened. As a lightly-raced chaser after just four starts in this sphere, Lecky Watson could have more progress in him. Further improvement is essential, however, now in open company over fences in such deep waters.
Grangeclare West, who pulled up in this race 12 months ago, Punchestown Festival graded handicap scorer James Du Berlais; and the last two winners of the Grand National, Nick Rockett and I Am Maximus, complete Mullins’ magnificent seven in the John Durkan Chase.
Fastorslow, Inothewayurthinkin Back for More
Four others remained in the race following final declarations. Of those, Martin Brassil’s talented but fragile Fastorslow boasts the best track record. A dual Punchestown Gold Cup winner, he’s now nine and missed a whole calendar year through injury. Fastorslow has regular jockey JJ Slevin back in the saddle now, but the son of Saint Des Saints must prove he retains all his old ability.
Plenty of leading online Cheltenham bookmakers believe so as he’s third-favourite behind Fact To File and Gaelic Warrior here. Inothewayurthinkin downed Galopin Des Champs in such dramatic fashion in the Gold Cup in March, but he just wasn’t effective over this shorter trip 12 months ago, meanwhile.
Much like the Grand National horses in the John Durkan Chase field, Gavin Cromwell’s charge has this as a pipe opener. Inothewayurthinkin will have his entire campaign geared around returning to Cheltenham for a defence of the Gold Cup. He too represents the seven-year-old age bracket so successful here in recent seasons.
Heart Wood hails from the Henry De Bromhead stable and brings race fitness into this, something most competition lacks. Although Robcour’s seven-year-old Choeur Du Nord gelding landed a Grade 3 over further here in October, there’s plenty for him to find with Fact To Final on their Ryanair Chase meeting on the Cheltenham schedule from the Festival.
Although placed in three Grade 1 chases previously, Heart Wood must find more here. Completing the line-up is shock Webster Cup winner Senecia. Vincent Laurence Halley’s eight-year-old is a rank outsider here after pulling off a 50/1 shock around Navan on heavy ground in March. Senecia wasn’t disgraced when chasing home Il Etait Temps in the Clonmel Oil Chase on reappearance, but this is even tougher.
John Durkan Chase 2025 Shortlist & Verdict
A belter with half-a-dozen in the field rated 168 or higher. Going right-handed makes GAELIC WARRIOR a credible alternative to Fact To File with those two the clear best of the Mullins septet. This rough two-and-a-half miles isn’t much good to either other of the McManus runners. Nick Rockett and Grangeclare West face a similar problem.
Of the remainder, while Heart Wood has a run under his belt, he finds one or more too good in elite company. Open to more progress, meanwhile, is Lecky Watson. If the Fastorslow of old showed up, then he could have a say in the finish, but that yearlong absence from the track is a concern.
WATCH: Fact To File Win at Punchestown Last Season
