A fascinating edition of the King George VI Chase in 2025 at Kempton Park on Boxing Day headlines a fabulous day of horse racing and sport in general. Eight runners featured in final declarations for the three-mile Grade 1 feature contest with three coming over from Ireland for a tilt at this festive highlight.
The track at Kempton and course at Cheltenham races today could hardly be more different. King George hopefuls race clockwise on a flat, turning circuit with none of the undulations of Prestbury Park. Configured the other way around, it provides a test that bears no resemblance to the Gold Cup whatsoever.
Despite this longstanding fact, ante post markets for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival look sure to be influenced an awful lot by what happens on the track here. The King George VI Chase 2025 result could impact the Gold Cup picture as much as the Savills Chase from Leopardstown in the Emerald Isle 48 hours later.
As a result of that, online Cheltenham bookmakers will pay close attention to what happens on both sides of the Irish Sea during the festive period. Three course and distance winners feature in the King George line-up with Banbridge back to defend his title and take on Il Est Francais again, plus last year’s Kauto Star scorer The Jukebox Man.
Elsewhere, John Durkan 1-2 Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File resume their rivalry for Willie Mullins. Djelo and Jango Baie are in-form hopefuls for the home team with Master Chewy completing the line-up. Get the lowdown on each of these horses gunning for Kempton glory with our experts’ analysis of each of them.
King George VI Chase 2025 Runners Guide
1. Banbridge
- Age: 9
- Rating: 167
- Jockey: Sean Bowen
- Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
- Form Figures: P/328/11147110/11321/19/14U17-44
- Notable Wins: 2022 Arkle Trial, 2023 Manifesto Novices’ Chase, 2024 Silviniaco Conti Chase, 2024 Punchestown Champion Chase, 2024 King George VI Chase
Last year’s winner who reeled in frontrunner Il Est Francais after the final fence. Not been able to reproduce his heroics from 12 months ago since. Suspicion it may have got to the bottom of him. Eye-catching spare ride for British champion jumps jockey. Definitely needs further than his reappearance fourth in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork.
2. Djelo
- Age: 7
- Rating: 164
- Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
- Trainer: Venetia Williams
- Form Figures: 1/12308/111F238/212176-11
- Notable Wins: 2023 Noel Novices’ Chase, 2024 & 2025 Peterborough Chase, 2025 Denman Chase, 2025 Charlie Hall Chase
Five-time Grade 2 winner over trips ranging from 2m 3f up to three miles. Beaten out of sight by first Fact To File in the Ryanair Chase result from Cheltenham and then Gaelic Warrior in the Aintree Bowl last spring. Always seems to struggle at this level, but in form and bidding for a hat-trick in the King George VI Chase, which the stable has won before.
3. Fact To File
- Age: 8
- Rating: 173
- Jockey: Mark Walsh
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Form Figures: 1/122/2111/1231-42
- Notable Wins: 2024 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, 2024 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase, 2025 Ryanair Chase
One of two Cheltenham Festival winners from last season in the line-up. Uneasy in the betting before being confirmed for a tilt at this, he takes on Gaelic Warrior again after their epic John Durkan battle on reappearance. Should strip fitter for that outing, while stepping back up in trip could be a plus for a horse with an Irish Point and extended bumper background. Powerful owner has never won a King George.
4. Gaelic Warrior
- Age: 7
- Rating: 174
- Jockey: Paul Townend
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Form Figures: 6/332/11121/11U1/22311-1
- Notable Wins: 2023 Faugheen Novice Chase, 2024 Arkle, 2025 Aintree Bowl, 2025 Oaksey Chase, 2025 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase
Won his last three and goes best right-handed. Prevailed over stable company Fact To File by a neck at Punchestown on reappearance. Seems to have been around forever, yet still only seven rising eight. This course and distance could be tailor-made for him. Yard has won the King George VI Chase twice before. Obvious contender looking to confirm John Durkan form now.
5. Il Est Francais
- Age: 7
- Rating: 163
- Jockey: Harry Cobden
- Trainer: Tom George
- Form Figures: 2221/11115/1115/1P261-3P
- Notable Wins: 2023 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase
Grade 1 course and distance winner on this card two years ago. Almost repeated frontrunning tactics in the King George last year. Caught on the run-in by Banbridge. Managed to win a conditions hurdle at Lyon at long odds-on since, but pulled-up on stable debut after moving from France. Clearly likes Kempton, but needs a big step forward from 1965 Chase display.
6. Jango Baie
Youngest in the field. Last-gasp Arkle success on the Champion Hurdle day Cheltenham race card over a trip way too sharp for him. Close third in the Manifesto at Aintree before career-best rout in the 1965 Chase at Ascot on reappearance. The further he went, the better he looked. Stable has masterminded three King George VI Chase successes. Big threat to marker principals.
7. Master Chewy
- Age: 8
- Rating: 156
- Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
- Trainers: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
- Form Figures: 324/3F22688/12214F2/4F3156-24
- Notable Wins: 2023 Wayward Lad Novices' Chase, 2025 Game Spirit Chase
Beaten out of sight by Jango Baie at Ascot when last in action, but has won at Kempton before. Course form franked when runner-up beat that one in 2024 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown, but just two Grade 2 wins over two miles for this one. Hard to make a case as he didn’t stay two-and-a-half miles over hurdles. Rank outsider in the line-up.
8. The Jukebox Man
- Age: 7
- Rating: 156
- Jockey: Ben Jones
- Trainer: Ben Pauling
- Form Figures: 121/11322/11-1
- Notable Wins: 2024 John Francome Novices’ Chase, 2024 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase
Open to the most progress over fences with an unbeaten record of 3-3. Jumped well when landing a Grade 1 over course and distance at this meeting 12 months ago. Defied racecourse absence of 331 days for a successful return in a Graduation Chase at Haydock latest. Runner-up has gone one better since. This demands more, but he’s done nothing wrong in this discipline and will surely come on for his reappearance.
King George VI Chase 2025 Shortlist & Verdict
This has all the makings of a classic renewal on paper. Kempton could really suit GAELIC WARRIOR in his rematch with Fact To File as both aren’t strangers to travelling over to the UK. Potentially breathing down Mullins’ neck, however, are second season chasers Jango Baie and The Jukebox Man for the home team.
Djelo has done nothing wrong this season, but needs even more improvement. Banbridge looks vulnerable to the younger legs arrayed against him and mounting a successful defence of his crown will be tough. Cases are even harder to make for Il Est Francais and Master Chewy in such deep waters.
