Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1)

MARK Walsh’s future with J.P. McManus might have been the focus of much speculation entering the Dublin Racing Festival, but he emerged from the two-day meeting making headlines of an entirely different nature - wrapping up a Grade 1 four-timer courtesy of a fabulous exhibition from Fact To File in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup.

The 39-year-old has always been one to let his riding do the talking, and the man who has partnered more Grade 1 winners for McManus than any other jockey made an unmistakable statement with his exploits this bank holiday weekend. He rode with immense purpose from word go at the first major festival since news of Harry Cobden’s incoming appointment.

Kaid d’Authie, Majborough and Narciso Has had already ensured this was a weekend to remember for last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning rider, but victory in the highlight of the entire DRF put a cap on proceedings in no uncertain terms.

Ten years on from his only other win in the race with Carlingford Lough, Walsh was positive on last year’s Ryanair Chase hero, who desperately needed to bounce back from a disappointing King George run over the festive period. Walsh kept the faith with the dual Cheltenham winner at the expense of his old partner Inothewayurthinkin, who he rode here at Christmas in the Savills, and he got the call just right.

It might sound strange to say about a horse with Fact To File’s CV, but this felt like a coming-of-age performance from him in senior company. This was the complete display that connections always hoped was in his locker, ever since bursting onto the Grade 1 novice chasing scene at this meeting two years ago.

The Leopardstown faithful made no apologies about their unwavering support for Irish Gold Cup four-timer seeker Galopin Des Champs. He was roared out of the parade ring on the way to post, and from at least nine fences out, cries of ‘come on Paul’ could be heard from the grandstand at every single obstacle.

There was no fairytale for Townend and his course favourite, however. The old warrior was beaten 13 and a half lengths in third, but he probably failed to come forward as much as hoped from his three-and-a-quarter-length third in the Savills on reappearance.

Gaelic Warrior played his part in a top-class contest under Patrick Mullins, splitting the pair in spite of racing keenly, but there was simply no living with Fact To File, who is now as short as 7/2 for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup after collecting by an emphatic five lengths here. Thankfully for all concerned, Inothewayurthinkin got to his feet and walked away from a tired fall at the last when beaten.

“Fact To File was brilliant, he’s the complete package now” said Walsh after the 46th Grade 1 victory of his career.

“You could put a line through Kempton; he didn’t jump and he didn’t travel and the ground might have been a bit quick for him. The way this lad jumps, he jumped his way to the front four out today. I was there a mile too soon, but there was nothing I could do about it, I just had to sit and suffer and fill him up.

“I was just a passenger, all I had to do was steer him. He's so clever with his jumping, you just leave it to him. He's one of those horses that is a joy to ride. When they get a bit older, they get a bit cleverer and know what they’re doing.

“I was delighted with him today and always happy. I planned to follow the lads in front, we went a good enough gallop over the first five or six and then they steadied it up and I jumped and travelled everywhere.

“He has no problem staying. I thought jumping the second-last that I’d win. I could hear Darragh [O’Keeffe on Monty’s Star] kicking besides me and Paul [Townend] was shouting at his fella… I gave my lad a little squeeze and there was plenty left. Up the straight, you could see him after the last looking at the crowd and pricking his ears - there was plenty left.”

Could we be set for a similar situation to 12 months ago when it comes to McManus and the Cheltenham Gold Cup? Inothewayurthinkin needed to be supplemented for the great race after his fourth to Galopin Des Champs in this contest last year, and Fact To File will also need to be added at a cost of £25,000 by March 7th. His only Festival entry at present is the Ryanair Chase.

Mullins, speaking after his record-extending 15th win in the race (and a 1-2-3 in 2026), said: “That was a helluva performance, both from Mark and the horse. Terrific, he jumped from fence to fence and it was something to watch.

“He just jumped his way to the front and Mark didn’t want to disappoint him, and he kept galloping. I was wondering would he stay the trip going at that pace, because they went a fair lick from the start. He stayed every inch of it and galloped right through the line.

“I think it was one of the best chases run in Ireland or England this year. The class of horse that was in it was fantastic. It turned out to be as good as it looked.”

On his Cheltenham entry situation, Mullins added: “We had him in the Gold Cup but he was withdrawn. He could always go in as a supplementary entry. We haven’t spoken and we’ll see what happens.

“From the first day he came into the stable, he just exuded the fact that he was a racehorse and he’s proved it today here. We had so many horses in the race that any one of them could have put up a performance. That was far and above what he had done before.”

On his other placed runners, the champion trainer noted: “Gaelic Warrior ran too free. Patrick thought he was running a great race. Down to the fifth last, I thought he had every chance of winning, but his exertions early on in the race just told. That doesn’t take away from him. He could be a Ryanair horse, but he definitely stays a trip as well.

“Galopin Des Champs ran a terrific race. The exertions at Christmas probably just told against him. He’ll have a much longer break now for the Gold Cup in Cheltenham. He’ll go there in good order, I hope, too.”