Gaelic Warrior Backed To Give Willie Mullins a Third King George VI Chase

The King George VI Chase betting odds for 2025 were shaken up last weekend, with the first three in the market all winning – including Gaelic Warrior, who was a gutsy winner of the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown. 

As a result, Gaelic Warrior is now the clear favourite for the Kempton Boxing Day feature – as he looks to give trainer Willie Mullins a third win in the big ITV Racing festive race.

King George VI Chase Betting Odds 2025

Note: King George VI Chase betting odds 2025 are subject to change and others on request

Gaelic Warrior Bidding To Become First John Durkan Winner To Follow Up In King George Since Kicking King 

The 2025 John Durkan Memorial Chase was billed up as the best staying chase of the season so far.

And even though only two horses got into the race – it didn’t disappoint.

Stablemates, Fact To File and Gaelic Warrior dominated the betting beforehand and that was the same story in the race.

With the front-running Gaelic Warrior battling back to collar Fact To File on the line after being headed.

As a result, the best horse racing betting sites slashed his King George VI Chase betting odds to 15/8 and is now the big Boxing Day favourite to pay for the Christmas turkeys.

With Fact Of File, pushed out to 8/1.

That John Durkan win came over 2m 3 1/2f, but Gaelic Warrior is a very versatile horse when it comes to trip.

Don’t forget he won the Bowl Chase at Aintree last season over 3m1f – when slamming the easy Betfair Chase winner Grey Dawning.

Gaelic Warrior Is Two-From-Two Over 3m+

Plus has also won over hurdles at three miles – and is, in fact, two-from-two when racing over three+ miles.

Therefore, many are saying his mix of speed and stamina are the perfect ingredients for the King George VI Chase – which is often run at a searching gallop.

If he can follow-up, Gaelic Warrior will be the first John Durkan Memorial Chase winner to land the King George in the same season since Kicking King in 2004.

While before ‘The King’ it was another Willie Mullins-trained horse that did the double – Florida Pearl in 2001.

WATCH: Gaelic Warrior Winning The 2025 John Durkan Memorial Chase 

Gaelic Warrior Will Be Looking To Give Willie Mullins A Third King George Win

Despite having many top staying chasers over the years, it’s slightly surprising that trainer Willie Mullins has only won the King George VI Chase twice.

The first of these big Kempton wins came with the already mentioned Florida Pearl in 2001 – who was ridden by Adrian Maguire.

While the Closutton handler had to wait until 2021 for his next, when Tornado Flyer, under Danny Mullins,

Paul Nicholls is the winning-most King George trainer with 13 successes.

But according to the 2025 King George VI Chase betting, Nicholls doesn’t have any leading chances this year.

Do The King George VI Chase Favourites Have A Good Record?

So with Gaelic Warrior set to go off as the market leader – we look at how the King George VI Chase favourites have fared in recent years.

The quick answer is – very well.

In the last 23 runnings of the King George, the race has produced eleven winning favourites.

Meaning a 48% return so any festive punters blinding backing the jolly when tucking into their turkey and trying to fend off the relatives.

The last winning King George favourite, however, was Might Bite in 2017.

So the race is currently on a run of seven with no winning market leader.

The 2023 winner Hewick returned 12/1 and last year’s hero Banbridge SP’d at 7/1.

Jango Baie Backed: Nicky Henderson Eyes Fourth King George

Trainer Nicky Henderson has won three King George VI Chases in his time.

Two with Long Run in 2010 and 2012, with his most recent Might Bite in 2017.

But another horse that’s been backed in recent days in the 2005 King George VI Chase betting odds market is his Jango Baie.

Last year’s Arkle Novices’ Chase winner returned this season with an easy win at Ascot in the 1965 Chase over 2m5f and there could be even more to come over further.

He’s only raced five times over fences (three wins) and with that last victory also coming after a wind operation – this is more evidence to suggest we’ve not seen the best of this six year-old yet.

Jango Baie is now the clear second favourite in the market at 9/4

WATCH: Jango Baie Winning The 1965 Chase at Ascot 

King George VI Betting Odds Shorten For The Jukebox Man

Another horse that saw his King George VI Chase betting odds cut recently was The Jukebox Man.

This Ben Pauling runner was returned to win the Graduation Chase at Haydock on Saturday 22nd November – beaten Grand National fourth Iroko by 2 1/2 lengths.

That win made it three-from-three for this Harry Redknapp-owned chaser over fences and is now as low as 9/2 in the King George market.

Backers will also know the Kempton track suits – having won the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase there last Christmas.

WATCH: The Jukebox Man Winning The Graduation Chase at Haydock 

Last Year’s King George Winner Banbridge 16/1 For Repeat Win

The King George VI Chase has been a good race for repeat winners.

With the last being Clan Des Obeaux in 2018 and 2019.

While before that, the likes of Long Run, Silviniaco Conti, Kicking King and, of course, Kauto Star have been multiple winners of the race.

So, the next to try will be last year’s (2024) winner Banbridge, who was giving trainer Joseph O’Brien a first win in the Kempton Grade One.

But the King George VI Chase betting odds suggest he might have it all to do.

He’s as big as 16/1 to follow-up having since been well beaten in the Cheltenham and Punchestown Gold Cups.

WATCH: Banbridge Winning The 2024 King George VI Chase 

King George VI Chase Race Details 2025

📅Date: Friday 26th December 2025
⌚Time: 3:00pm
🏇Racecourse: Kempton
🔄Trip: 3m
💷Winning Purse: £148,098.47
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV

King George Chase VI Winners Since 2005