English/Ire
Fact To File back with a bang as Walsh completes Grade 1 four-timer
Fact To File’s success in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup Chase may prove the crowning moment of a superb Dublin Racing Festival for Mark Walsh. The victory was his fourth Grade 1 success of the meeting, achieved in J.P. McManus’s famous green-and-gold silks, and it also completed a third top-level win on the day for champion trainer Willie Mullins.
Despite being a four-time Grade 1 winner over fences, the nine-year-old arrived at Leopardstown seeking a return to form. He had last been seen finishing a well-beaten sixth in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton over the festive period. The Leopardstown trip was also a pre-race question: in last season's renewal, he finished third, around five lengths behind the winner.
On paper, the race was rich in storylines. Galopin Des Champs was bidding to match Florida Pearl's record of four Irish Gold Cup victories, while Paul Townend was chasing a fourth win in the contest to draw level with Mark Dwyer at the top of the jockeys' roll of honour. Those ambitions began to fade some way from home, however. From the end of the back straight, Fact To File travelled strongly and increasingly had the reigning champion under pressure.
Spindleberry's challenge ended when pulled up before the fourth-last, and the complexion of the race shifted soon after. Savills Chase winner Affordale Fury had enjoyed a largely uncontested lead, but weakened quickly once the principals moved to challenge. Galopin Des Champs advanced on the outside, Fact To File ranged up alongside, and Monty's Star tracked between runners. Townend was soon hard at work, while Walsh remained notably composed.
Any lingering doubts about stamina on the testing ground were answered decisively. Fact To File kept finding up the straight. Gaelic Warrior - who had raced freely early - emerged to give chase, but Fact To File never relented and drew clear to win by five lengths. A further eight and a half lengths back, Galopin Des Champs stayed on dourly to claim third.
Walsh, who first won this race in 2016 aboard Carlingford Lough, was clearly delighted when speaking to Racing TV afterwards. He said: "Just put a line through Kempton. He didn't jump. He didn't travel. I'm delighted with him today.
"I was always happy. He jumped so well down the back straight the second time. We'll take it.
"We went a good gallop today. At a track like Leopardstown, winning over that, he has no problem staying.
"I was happy at the second last. He's a good horse in his own right. He's only in the Ryanair [Chase] at the moment - but we'll see!"
Paddy Power shortened Fact To File from 11-8 favouritism to 4-5 for the Ryanair. He was also afforded a first show of 5/1 for the Gold Cup, but awaits supplementation for a fee of £25,000.
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