The warmth of a winter morning lingered over Closutton as Gaelic Warrior King George VI Chase conversations filled the yard with something close to quiet excitement. A groom leaned into the bay’s neck with a gentle kiss — a small moment of tenderness between horse and handler — before stepping back to watch him move, head high, muscles tight, full of purpose. Exercise riders murmured their approval from the sidelines, knowing they were looking at a horse carrying both expectation and admiration as Boxing Day at Kempton draws near. Word travels quickly when a horse performs like he did last weekend, and this week the talk has only grown louder.
This winter renewal of the £250,000 King George VI Chase, one of the most storied Grade One contests in the National Hunt calendar, has attracted a truly international blend of quality — 20 entries, ten horses travelling from Ireland, one flying the flag for France, and the remainder trained in Britain. There is no crown handed out lightly in late December: Kempton demands rhythm, stamina, composure and heart. It is a race built for horses that thrive on pressure, and Gaelic Warrior seems to fit that mould more snugly with each passing run.
His latest victory in the John Durkan Chase, achieved on Sunday and still the centrepiece of conversation across training centres, has sharpened interest further. He defeated two giants of the modern jumping era — one a Gold Cup winner, another a Grand National hero — and did it with both power and unflustered control. Those who watched from the stands spoke of a horse who looked like he had more to give, more speed in reserve, more defiance to show if asked. It is this sense of untapped potential that now makes him the headline act on Kempton’s biggest afternoon.
But the story of this race is not Gaelic Warrior alone. Depth, history and rivalry run through the entry sheet like threads of silk.
Among the challengers waiting in the mist is Banbridge, triumphant here in 2024 and returning with experience on his side. He knows the track, the ground, the rhythm of the race. He knows what kind of horse you must be to win here. Connections have trained him with patience and deliberate positioning, aware that the road to Kempton does not reward rush or uncertainty. Fact To File, the horse who pressed Gaelic Warrior so hard only days ago, stands poised for a rematch — a duel many neutrals will relish.
There is also the bold presence of Fastorslow, a seasoned competitor whose best days arrive when the pressure is highest. The Jukebox Man, Jango Baie, Il Est Francais, Djelo, L’Homme Presse — each a horse with a story worth following. The field feels broader than in recent seasons; stronger in layers, richer in narrative. Boxing Day has become a midwinter summit, and this year the climb looks steeper than ever.
Gaelic Warrior King George VI Chase – Full List of Entries
Grade One — 3 miles — 2:30pm, Thursday 26 December — Kempton Park
Banbridge (IRE) – Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Boombawn (IRE) – Dan Skelton
Croke Park (IRE) – Gordon Elliott
Djelo (FR) – Venetia Williams
Fact To File (FR) – W. P. Mullins
Fastorslow (FR) – Martin Brassil
Firefox (IRE) – Gordon Elliott
Found A Fifty (IRE) – Gordon Elliott
Gaelic Warrior (GER) – W. P. Mullins
Grangeclare West (IRE) – W. P. Mullins
Heart Wood (FR) – Henry de Bromhead
Il Est Francais (FR) – Tom George
Jango Baie (FR) – Nicky Henderson
Jordans (FR) – Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Kolokico (FR) – Emmanuel Clayeux, France
L’homme Presse (FR) – Venetia Williams
Master Chewy (IRE) – Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
Riskintheground (IRE) – Dan Skelton
The Jukebox Man (IRE) – Ben Pauling
Panic Attack (IRE) – Dan Skelton
Total entries: 20
Irish-trained: 10
French-trained: 1
A race built on history — and one moment that could define a season
The King George has always belonged to horses that shine when winter bites: Desert Orchid, Kauto Star, Clan Des Obeaux, Frodon — names carved deep into the story of the sport. The Boxing Day crowd will come wrapped in scarves, breath visible in the cold air, voices lifted in anticipation as the runners circle beneath the stands before a hush falls for the off.
Gaelic Warrior may enter Kempton as the horse many expect to win, but the race will ask for more than reputation. It will ask for rhythm in the early stages, for attack in the back straight, for grit when the final fence approaches and the roar from the stands begins to swell. Boxing Day gives no favours — it demands proof.
Whether he can deliver that proof remains the question that makes this year’s renewal so compelling.
As trainers tighten girths, finalise gallops, and plan the path to Kempton Park, one thing feels certain: this year’s race is not merely a highlight — it is shaping into a winter centrepiece, a meeting of nations, and perhaps a defining moment for a horse the racing world is watching closely.
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