'They're crumbling under pressure' - Paddy Flood on the King George and Mullins form

By irishracing.com news

The 2025 King George VI Chase at Kempton was a tightly run race with the field staying compact for much of the three miles with the pace set by Il Est Francais.

The Jukebox Man was always well positioned just behind the leaders, travelling smoothly and jumping soundly, while Banbridge and Gaelic Warrior were prominent throughout the race.

Turning for home, the tempo lifted and several had chances, with Banbridge briefly hitting the front after the last fence, but The Jukebox Man showed real grit on the run-in, responding well under pressure to claw back the lead and win by a nose.

Gaelic Warrior stayed on gamely to finish a close third, and Jango Baie ran on into fourth after being a little untidy early.

Others, including Fact To File and Djelo, never quite found their momentum when it mattered, leaving a thrilling finish in which jumping accuracy, tactical positioning, and determination proved decisive.

The visually brilliant King George VI Chase

Speaking on irishracing.com’s Irish Angle, Paddy Flood said: “Oh, visually, wasn't it brilliant!

“A great seller for Kempton and for everyone fighting to keep the race course alive.

“It goes back to the Kauto Star, Best Mate and Long Run sort of finishes, superstars all up sides, jockey's giving everything, horses giving everything and I was delighted for Harry Redknapp.

“He's invested in this game, these horses aren't cheap and training horses aren't cheap. He seems to absolutely love his ownership, he really thrives on it.”

Jango Baie looks ‘a proper stayer’

Emma Nagle added her thoughts: “I think Jango Baie is one you can take going forward with the Gold Cup as well.

“I'd say he's probably one who would have liked a faster place that he looks like a proper stayer for me.

“So I thought it was a cracker and I'd say the first four home put in good performances. I wouldn't query the form myself.”

“Gaelic Warrior, the way the race was run probably didn't particularly suit him. He kind of had a chance.

“I'm not sure Paul's little mishap with the stick in the closing helped him too much. I don't think he lost a whole lot of momentum.

“So it might be a bit harsh to say that but you know when the margin of defeat is so small something like that maybe would stick in the back of your mind but I take a lot of positives from the race for Gaelic Warrior.

“Fact to File was the obvious big disappointment. You'd have to say he was flat after the John Durkan.

“It's hard to really like, he was never really going, he was never jumping with massive fluency. I just have to put a line through that for him. I suppose I'm not sure where they'll go from here.”

Tough performance from The Jukebox Man

After winning his point-to-point for the Baltimore Stables team The Jukebox Man was sold for small money at the Goffs UK Tingle Creek Sale in 2022. His dam, My Twist was unraced and is yet to produce another winner.

Since joining Ben Pauling, the gelding has proved to be incredibly consistent, always being placed or winning. A huge credit to his starter, purchaser, owner and trainer.

Emma Nagle gave her take on the winner: “It kind of turned into a bit of a sprint finish, but I think you have to give all credit to the winner as in fairness, The Jukebox Man, he was impressive running at Haydock the time before.

“Whether or not he's a proper Gold Cup horse or not, I'm not 100% sure.

“I wouldn't mind seeing him go to Ryanair because, you know, he showed a good turn of foot turning in and I just loved the way when he was headed by Banbridge and Gaelic Warrior, but he put his head down. He battled all the way to the line.”

Paddy Flood - Something isn’t right at Mullins HQ

Willie Mullins’s horses didn’t quite fire in the King George VI Chase.

Gaelic Warrior ran with credit and stayed on well, but he never quite found the extra gear to threaten the winner, while Fact To File looked uncomfortable for much of the race, lacking his usual fluency and dropping away when the pressure increased.

Paddy Flood gave his thoughts on the yard form: “Willie’s horses are not right. I'm telling you because if you look at Willie Mullins back through the years, even if the horses weren't good enough, you had to battle to get by them, they know how to fight. They love a fight.

“They're trained hard in a deep gallop. But most of the horses that are running well and winning are probably very above average horses, that you know are not coming under that much pressure.

“For me, it's more than horses needing a run, they're crumbling under pressure and Willie's horses don't do that even if they need a run.

“I think there's a lot more going on and with that I'd give a lot of them another chance to be honest. I'd give it till the DRF before I make any decision to back Willies in Cheltenham.”