3 minute read

Fact To File impressed with a flawless display in Sunday’s Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase at Leopardstown, finishing alone after sole rival Gaelic Warrior unseated Paul Townend.

Following the late defection of Grangeclare West and American Mike, the contest was left as a two-horse race between the Willie Mullins trained stablemates Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File, with the Rich Ricci-owned Gaelic Warrior taking an early lead. The pair remained in the same order until the fourth-last fence when Gaelic Warrior produced a messy jump and jockey Mark Walsh took the initiative, pulling a comfortable lead aboard Fact To File. It was a foregone result coming to the final fence with Fact To File comfortably clear, but Gaelic Warrior dived right at the fence and unseated Paul Townend, leaving his stable companion to come home alone.

"He's always shown me he's good. From the first day he came into the yard he was one that I marked down as 'he could be anything'. He's doing everything right," said Mullins.

"The race fell apart and I don't know what happened Gaelic Warrior. I didn't get a chance to talk to Paul yet.

"He's so laid-back in the stable and so laid-back in a race. He does everything Mark asks him to do and you could run him over two and a half miles or a Gold Cup trip. He's got the temperament to go with it, too, which is what you want in those three-mile chasers, he's a very calm horse.

"I'll have a word with JP and Frank (Berry) and see what they want to do."

Paddy Power have shortened Fact To File from 4/1 to 2/1 favourite for the Turners Novices' Chase and from 7/2 to 5/2 favourite for the Browns Advisory Novices' Chase.