Christmas Festival 2025: King George VI Chase race analysis and preview

National Hunt racing’s winter climax is almost upon us, as the 2025 Christmas Festival gets underway on Boxing Day.

Headlined by the King George VI Steeple Chase, the meeting plays host to 12 races across two days of elite action. 

The showpiece event runs at 2:30pm on Boxing Day and will see star horses go head-to-head over three miles of Kempton Park racecourse. 

Eighteen fences are scheduled to be jumped in the race that will see over £250,000 awarded in prize money. 

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Gaelic Warrior

This year’s renewal sees Gaelic Warrior head the market at 2/1 to win his trainer, Willie Mullins, his third King George VI and first since 2021. 

The seven-year-old gelding is unbeaten in his last three starts, two of which were at Grade One level. 

He won the Aintree Bowl back at the Grand National meeting, before ending last season with a Grade Two win at Sandown. 

The ante-post favourite made a successful return to action just over two weeks ago, by winning the John Durkhan memorial chase – ahead of back-to-back Cheltenham Festival winning stablemate Fact To File. 

He carried the colours of owner JP McManus to victory in the 2024 Brown Advisory and the 2025 Ryanair Chase, which was his last victory. 

After the John Drukhan, Mullins told Racing TV: “He (Gaelic Warrior) was so exuberant over his first few fences, Paul (Townend) said he better sit there, hang on and let the horse set his own fractions. 

Fantastic

“Mark (Walsh) was sitting there stalking him. I thought it was all over. I couldn’t really believe he got back up to win it. 

“It was an extraordinary race for two fantastic horses.”

When asked where Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File will head next, Mullins said: “I’d imagine I’d like to send one to Kempton and one to Leopardstown, but we’ll see how they come out of that. 

“I didn’t expect that they’d have that tough of a race, but they were both fit and well coming here too.” 

Fact To File is in the betting at 5/1, whilst the third-placed horse Fastorsslow is out at 10/1. 

Jango Baie

The course’s winning-most trainer, Nicky Henderson, hasn’t won this race since 2017, though he is set to send Arkle winner Jango Baie to this year’s renewal. 

He is the current 9/4 second-favourite having won two of his last three races, which came at the Cheltenham Festival and on seasonal reappearance in a Grade Two at Ascot. 

Jango Baie’s only Grade One victory over fences came in the Arkle, but he has had only five runs over said obstacles – including when placing twice in two other Grade One chases last season. 

After Jango Baie’s winning return, Henderson said: “He jumped well and travelled well and what I did like is how he picked up from the last and went away. 

“He’s got a gear and even had a gear over two miles and he’s got the pace to be in the race because he can travel as well.”

The Jukebox Man

Former Premier League football manager Harry Redknapp is set to see his colours carried on Boxing Day by The Jukebox Man. 

The Ben Pauling-trained gelding won his first Grade One on this card last year, in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase. 

He is unbeaten in three runs over fences and reappeared for the first time since that win last year, with a win at Haydock last month. 

Prior to his runs over fences, he had placed second in back-to-back Novice Grade One Hurdle races, and he is yet to finish outside the placings in 11 career runs. 

Exciting

“I’m very happy with him, which is great as it was obviously his first run for a little while,” said Pauling.

“He’s an exciting horse who has never really had to be extended to win over fences and I wouldn’t swap him for any (King George contender) at the moment. 

“I was just delighted to see the way he jumped and travelled. 

“I don’t think they went overly quick, but he didn’t miss a beat with his jumping. His jumping was equally as electric and accurate as it was last season. 

“I can’t emphasise enough, although I tried to explain beforehand, how much he will come on for the race and it was sort of the perfect trial for me because he hasn’t had to go to the well to win it. 

“It was the perfect prep run for fitness and everything in order to go to Kempton with our confidence high.”

Djelo

Djelo

The Jukebox Man trades at 7/2 to win the King George VI, whilst trainer Venetia Williams’ Djelo is also in with a shout at 8/1. 

He lost his way at the end of last season, ending it with two very heavy defeats in races won by Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File, but prior to that he had been placed in four starts – winning twice. 

However, Djeo has returned to winning ways this campaign by taking victory in both of his races – defeating renowned horses such as Pic D’Orhy and Edwardstone, in two Grade Two Chases. 

The betting also gives a chance to 2023 winner Il Est Francais, whose 20 career races have come in France, but for three efforts on British soil. 

He has won and placed second in the last two renewals of this race and is sure to play a hand in proceedings again, should he line up on December 26.

READ MORE: Christmas Festival 2025: Dates, how to watch on TV, trainers and jockeys to watch