“Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File ready to trade blows” as Mullins targets King George glory Christmas time truly is a season of goodwill for racing fans as the major races just keep pouring in during the busy spell from St Stephen's Day through New Year's Day. In Ireland, Leopardstown, Limerick, Down Royal and Punchestown will host their traditional festive meetings before Tramore and Fairyhouse chime in after the New Year's bells. It's a hectic spell and we can expect champion trainer Willie Mullins to be unleashing lots of firepower in the coming days. The Closutton powerhouse has watched quite a few of his horses needing a run this season and it's more than reasonable to believe he will go through the gears now. Here are five Mullins horses we can look out for over Christmas. Fact To File Two-for-one on Kempton's big day appears to be the order for the day for Mullins, as Fact To File and Gaelic Warrior are both in line to contest a mouth-watering King George VI Chase on St Stephen's Day. The pair fought out a thrilling finish in the John Durkan on seasonal comeback, Gaelic Warrior making the running and sticking his heart on his sleeve to fend off Fact To File after the latter ranged alongside, seemingly ready to go by and win. Top owners Rich Ricci (Gaelic Warrior) and JP McManus (Fact To File) have targeted the King George and, as ever, Mullins has no fears in letting two of his biggest stars trade blows. Sortudo This Authorized gelding was good in bumpers last season and got some very positive mentions in the various Mullins stable tours ahead of going hurdling. He was well backed and won nicely on his jumping bow at Cork in November under Danny Mullins and holds an entry in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown (December 27th). He may well want further to be at his peak based on what we've seen and, more so, heard so far but his Christmas target should reveal much more. Dinoblue A top-class mare, Dinoblue is among the entries in the Grade 1 Paddy's Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown (December 27th) where she could have company from stablemates like Energumene or Majborough, depending on how well they've come out of the Hilly Way Chase at Cork. Found A Fifty won that contest and could line up here too alongside Champion Chaser Marine Nationale. Dinoblue won this race in 2023 but was only fourth last year, as Solness led the field a merry dance. She was second to the aforementioned Found A Fifty at Navan in last month's return. Final Demand The most exciting novice chaser in Ireland? Final Demand is certainly ramping up the hype machine. He signed off over hurdles with a Grade 1 romp at Punchestown in the spring and created a really positive impression on his fencing debut at Navan in November when leaving Wingmen flailing in his wake. He's a red-hot favourite for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival already and his next target is the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick (December 28th), a contest his trainer has bagged with Sir Des Champs, Bellshill, Faugheen, Gaelic Warrior and Impaire Et Passe amongst others. Galopin Des Champs The old master. Galopin Des Champs missed his usual comeback in the John Durkan with a minor setback at home but he's going to reappear over Christmas, according to dispatches from Closutton. He's entered in the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown (December 28th) where a rematch with his Cheltenham Gold Cup conqueror Inothewayurthinkin would be on the cards. Galopin Des Champs is unbeaten in seven starts over fences at the south Dublin circuit and would bid for a third Savills win. There is also the possibility he will celebrate the New Year at Tramore in their Grade 2 on January 1st, a contest dual-Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo won four times from 2019 onwards.
