The long-term future of Kempton Park has been questioned in recent weeks, with rumours persisting that the racecourse may be sold to housing developers. However, the track remains open for business in 2025 and is limbering up for its most famous meeting of the year.
Getting underway in its traditional Boxing Day slot, Kempton’s two-day Christmas Festival is the racing highlight of a stacked festive sporting programme. Topping the bill is one of the most iconic jumps races of the British season.
First run in 1937 and held in its traditional Boxing Day slot since 1947, the King George VI Chase is an essential part of the yuletide celebrations for racing fans. It is also one of the few National Hunt events to make a splash with the public at large, with the exploits of multiple winners Desert Orchid and Kauto Star making the front pages as well as the back.
Always attracting a field of the finest staying chasers in training, the 2025 edition of the three-mile Grade 1 event is shaping up to be a cracker. Nine remain in contention to join the list of greats, including a pair of Willie Mullins stars who served up one of the races of the season last time out in Ireland.
John Durkan Rematch is On
As is so often the case in Grade 1 contests on either side of the Irish Sea, the market suggests that Willie Mullins is the man to beat in the 2025 King George. First and second in the John Durkan Memorial Chase in November, Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File occupy the top two spots in the betting.
John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase 2025 Result
| Pos. | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gaelic Warrior | 13/8 | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2 | Fact To File | 11/8 | Willie Mullins | Mark Walsh |
| 3 | Fastorslow | 10/1 | Martin Brassil | J J Slevin |
That contest at Punchestown produced one of the most enthralling head-to-head tussles of the first half of the season. Having set a blistering pace and pulled 15 lengths clear of the field, Gaelic Warrior seemed sure to be overhauled when joined by Fact To File. However, the front-runner discovered admirable reserves of grit and determination to get back up and score by a neck. Anything close to a repeat of that battle would send the Kempton crowd home satisfied.
Despite his overall dominance, particularly at the Cheltenham Festival, Willie Mullins has “only” two King George wins to his name. However, that is two more than the high-profile owners of Fact To File and Gaelic Warrior. Fact To File sports the green and gold of JP McManus, who came closest to winning this with 1978 and 1979 runner-up Jack Of Trumps. Gaelic Warrior carries the pink and green of Mrs Susanna Ricci, who finished second with Vautour (2015) and Royale Pagaille (2022).
Baie The Best of the Brits?
Despite the Constitution Hill conundrum, Nicky Henderson has enjoyed a solid start to the 2025/26 season. Having claimed the Long Walk Hurdle with Impose Toi on Saturday, 20th December, the master of Seven Barrows will have high hopes of keeping the good times rolling on Boxing Day.
The horse to carry Henderson’s hopes in 2025 is the rapidly improving six-year-old, Jango Baie. One of the most promising novices in training last season, the mount of Nico de Boinville was never outside the first three in three Grade 1 outings. The pick of those efforts saw Jango Baie fly home late to claim the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Stepping into open company this term, he made his seasonal return in the Grade 2 1965 Chase at Ascot. While his main market rivals, Gidleigh Park and Pic d’Orhy, underperformed, it was hard not to be impressed by the way he powered nine lengths clear in the straight. With the possibility of further improvement to come for his first crack at three miles, he may at least give the Mullins duo something to think about.
Jukebox Man on Track for Redknapp
Unlike Willie Mullins or three-time winner Nicky Henderson, Ben Pauling has yet to enter the King George winner’s enclosure. However, that is hardly a surprise, as the Naunton handler has never previously had a runner in the race.
Claiming the King George at the first attempt would represent a clear career highlight for Pauling, who has yet to win a Grade 1 outside of novice company. Pauling’s King George representative, The Jukebox Man, is one of the four horses to claim a top-tier novice event for the yard. That success came in the 2024 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase over this course and distance. Carrying the colours of Harry Redknapp, he is the only unbeaten chaser in the field, having extended his record to three wins from as many outings on his seasonal return at Haydock.
The Venetia Williams-trained Djelo is another to note in a competitive field, having already claimed the Charlie Hall Chase and Peterborough Chase this season. Banbridge and Il Est Francais are the other most realistic each-way contenders. Both have been out of form lately, but finished first and second in the 2024 edition of this. Tune in at 2:30 pm on Boxing Day to discover who comes out on top in this national treasure of a race.