The 2024 King George VI Chase winner Banbridge will make his seasonal reappearance on Sunday in the Grade Two Hilly Way Chase – where he’s expected to take on last year’s winner Energumene again, Found A Fifty and last season’s Arkle Novices’ Chase third Majborough – in what looks an early Christmas cracker.
2025 King George Winner Banbridge Returns In Hilly Way Chase – The Race He Unseated In Last Year
Banbridge starts his King George VI Chase defence preparation this Sunday in the Grade Two Hilly Way Chase at Cork – but will be hoping to keep his jockey on his back this time.
Twelve months ago, Banbridge was still in with every chance when he unseated Richard Deegan at the last, which left Energumene to win as he liked (watch below).
That success gave Energumene his third win in the Hilly Way, after also taking the prize in 2021 and 2022 – he’s also back for more in 2025.
No horse has ever won the Hilly Way Chase four times.
At this stage, there could only be a maximum of five Hilly Way Chase runners.
However, the small, but select field does feature other big names like Found A Fifty and Majborough.
Despite the stellar opposition – Banbridge will still head into Sunday’s big race as the top-rated (166).
What Price Is Banbridge To Repeat King George Win?
Banbridge is a best-priced 14/1 for the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, which will be shown live on the ITV Racing schedule.
The Joseph O’Brien-trained nine year-old will be looking to become the first ‘back-to-back’ winner since Clan des Obeaux, who won in 2018 and 2019.
A good run in the Hilly Way Chase will give connections a better idea if he’ll be heading back to Kempton this Christmas.
Recent John Durkan Memorial Chase winner Gaelic Warrior is the current King George VI Chase favourite with the best horse racing betting sites.
WATCH: Banbridge Winning The 2024 King George VI Chase at Kempton
Willie Mullins Eyes Remarkable Seventeenth Hilly Way Win
Top Irish trainer and the current British jump champion trainer, Willie Mullins has won the Hilly Willy Chase an incredible 16 times.
Yes, SIXTEEN times – wow.
And, what’s even more remarkable is the race has only been going since 2001.
Meaning Willie Mullins has won 16 of the 24 runnings of this Cork Grade Two Chase.
I’ll let that sink in for a bit – but just to add to this, Mullins has also won ALL of the last six and 16 of the last 18.
Only trainers Henry de Bromhead (2012, Days Hotel) and Pat Fahey (2018, Castlegrace Paddy) have prevented a Mullins clean-sweep.
Therefore, it will be a brave punter that is siding against the Closutton handler – especially when he’s got the three-time winner of the race Energumene entered.
Willie Mullins will also have his exciting five year-old chaser Majborough, who was last seen winning the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase at Punchestown in May.
Both Mullins Hilly Way Chase runners are having their first runs of the season.
While Majborough has been installed as the big odds-on Hilly Way Chase odds-on favourite at 8/15.
Last Year’s Hilly Way Chase Winner Energumene Back For More
Every Willie Mullins Hilly Way Winner
- Our Ben (2007)
- Scotsirish (2008)
- Golden Silver (2009, 2010, 2011)
- Twinlight (2013)
- Felix Yonger (2014, 2015)
- Douvan (2016)
- Un De Sceaux (2017)
- Cilaos Emery (2019)
- Chacun Pour Soi (2020)
- Energumene (2021,2022,2024)
- El Fabiolo (2023)
Can Found A Fifty Give Gordon Elliott His First EVER Hilly Way Chase Win?
Trainer Gordon Elliott didn’t have a Hilly Way Chase runner in 2024, however in 2023 his Fil Dor was second behind El Fabiolo.
But what is slightly surprising is that Elliott is still winless in this race.
He does has a very good chance of breaking his duck in 2025 though, as he’s got his classy Found A Fifth entered.
This eight year-old was last seen slamming Dinoblue at Navan in the Fortria Chase and will head into Sunday’s race rated 164 – the same as the hot jolly Majborough.
Found A Fifty has been put in as the clear second favourite in the 2025 Hilly Way Chase betting odds market.
WATCH: Found A Fifty Winning The 2025 Fortria Chase at Navan
2025 Hilly Way Chase Race Details
📅Date: Sunday 7th December 2025
⌚Time: 2:50pm
🏇Racecourse: Cork
🔄Trip: 2m 1/2f
💷Winning Purse: €59,000
📺 TV: RTE2
Hilly Way Chase Runners and Betting Odds 2025
- Majborough (Willie Mullins) – 8/15
- Found A Fifty (Gordon Elliott) – 11/4
- Energumene (Willie Mullins) – 9/2
- Banbridge (Joseph O’Brien) – 6/1
- Ad Caelum (John Patrick Ryan) – 100/1
Note: Odds are subject to change
