WATCH: Limerick owner JP McManus celebrates thrilling Irish Gold Cup success at Leopardstown

THE JP McManus-owned Fact To File bounced back to form to lift the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup, with stablemate Galopin Des Champs having to settle for a gallant third place in his bid to land the Leopardstown showpiece for the fourth year in a row.

It was a fourth Grade 1 success of the two-day Dublin Racing Festival for leading Limerick owner McManus.

A dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and victorious in the Dublin Racing Festival feature in each of the past three seasons, Galopin Des Champs was the 15-8 favourite to match the feat of another Willie Mullins-trained superstar in Florida Pearl, who claimed four renewals between 1999 and 2004.

The 10-year-old suffered his first defeat in eight starts over fences at Leopardstown when third in his bid for a third Savills Chase in late December, but as that was his belated seasonal reappearance improvement was expected under Paul Townend.

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After tracking Savills Chase winner Affordale Fury for much of the way, Galopin Des Champs jumped to the front four fences from home – drawing a cheer from the crowd – but was quickly joined by Monty’s Star and Fact To File, who was bidding to put a disappointing run in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day behind him.

Another Mullins runner in Gaelic Warrior threw his hat into the ring from the home turn, but 9-2 shot Fact To File was travelling much the best under Mark Walsh and kept up the gallop to score by five lengths.

Fact to file!

Willie Mullins and Mark Walsh win their fourth Grade 1 of the Festival as Fact to File takes the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup Chase! pic.twitter.com/ciEciMC8Jb

— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) February 2, 2026

Gaelic Warrior was a clear second, with Galopin Des Champs narrowly beating Firefox to third to give the champion trainer a one-two-three. Reigning Cheltenham hero Inothewayurthinkin was a tired faller at the last, but was able to walk away.

“That was a helluva performance, both from Mark and the horse,” said Mullins.

“Terrific, he jumped from fence to fence and it was something to watch.

“He just jumped his way to the front and Mark didn’t want to disappoint him and he kept galloping.

“I was wondering would he stay the trip going at that pace, because they went a fair lick from the start.

“He stayed every inch of it and galloped right through the line.

“I think it was one of the best chases run in Ireland or England this year. The class of horse that was in it was fantastic. It turned out to be as good as it looked.”

Fact To File is only in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, but Mullins said: “We had him in the Gold Cup, he was withdrawn, but he could always go in as a supplementary entry. I think that’s what last year’s winner was. We haven’t spoken and we’ll see what happens.

“The first thing Mark remarked to me when he got off the horse was that when he hit the front he pricked his ears, which tells us all that he had more in the tank.

“From the first day he came into the stable he just exuded the fact that he was a racehorse and he’s proved it today here.

“We had so many horses in the race that any one of them could have put up a performance. That was far and above what he had done before.”

Despite the reverse for Galopin Des Champs, Mullins was not too downhearted, saying: “Galopin Des Champs ran a terrific race, he just got a little bit tired. I just thought the exertions at Christmas might tell on him and they did, but that will put him right now for Cheltenham – I think he’ll come back a lot stronger after that race.

“I was afraid that the Christmas would have an impact. He ran maybe two races if not three at Christmas and that has to tell on a horse. I think today’s race, coming the way that it did and what he did in today’s race, that showed me he’s still got plenty left in the tank.

“Gaelic Warrior was just doing too much throughout the race. Going to the fifth-last I thought he had every chance of winning but his exertions early on in the race just told.

“Whether that means he goes back for the Ryanair Chase (I don’t know), but he definitely stays, so I’d have no problem if we want to go for the Gold Cup with him.”