Today is one of those days in horse racing when top-class action comes from all angles, and none more so than here at Leopardstown.
The clash of the top two in the Cheltenham Gold Cup betting and the clash that every horse racing fan can not wait for, as Galopin Des Champs looks to turn the tables on Fact To File in the Grade 1 Savills Chase.
Eight runners stand between one of them and victory, but which one will come out on top, or will there be a shock in the Grade 1 Savills Chase?
Here, I give my thoughts on all nine runners and rides for the Savills Chase and the best online horse racing bookmakers to place your next winning bet.
Grade 1 Savills Chase runner by runner betting guide
Now it’s time to take an in-depth look into runners of the Grade 1 Savills Chase and the best horse racing bookmakers to help you make a winning bet.
2 Fact To File
- Age: 7
- Weight: 11st 10lb
- Form: 2111-1
- Rating: 169
- Jockey: Mark Walsh
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Odds: 11/8
Fact To File, the would-be-challenger to Galopin Des Champs Gold Cup crown, certainly set down a serious marker to take his crown when getting the better of the two-time Gold Cup hero in the Grade 1 John Durkan over just shy of two miles four furlongs.
Last season’s Brown Advisory Chase winner was and still is the talk on many people’s lips as the 2025 Gold Cup winner, and it’s easy to see why.
His performances last season were sensational at times, and he looks the stamp of a top-class staying chaser.
For all that he beat Galopin Des Champs in the John Durkan, this will be the acid test for Fact To File.
He faces Galopin Des Champ over a trip that he has been dominating for the past two seasons and was a 23-length winner of this race last season.
If Fact To File is to cement his place as the king in waiting, he will need to get the better of the rest of his rivals and Galopin Des Champs in his back garden.
He brings huge potential to the table and has every chance of getting the better of Galopin Des Champs once again.
A superstar in the making Got the better of Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown Three from four at Leopardstown
Meeting Galopin Des Champs over three miles Can race keenly
Star rating: 
Bet on Fact To File with talkSPORT BET
3 Galopin Des Champs
- Age: 8
- Weight: 11st 10lb
- Form: 1112-3
- Rating: 177
- Jockey: Paul Townend
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Odds: 11/8
The two-time Gold Cup hero and possibly the best staying chaser we have had since the days of Kauto Star looks to turn the tables with Fact To File in conditions that will be more up his street here.
Just like last season, Galopin Des Champs was turned over on his comeback in the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown, and just like last season, he is being written off by many coming into the Savills Chase.
But just as quickly as Galopin Des Champs was written off, he silenced his doubters with a devastating display in the 2023 running of the Savills Chase, beating Gerri Colombe by 23 lengths.
Today, he meets Fact To File on a track where Galopin Des Champs has yet to taste defeat over fences.
For all that Galopin Des Champs seems to have been around for a long time, he is only eight years old, so he is still at the peak of his powers.
Today’s trip is where he will be more at home and on a course he relishes.
Fact To File will have to be at his brilliant best to stop Galopin from recording his sixth win in a row over fences at Leopardstown.
I can’t wait to see what Galopin Des Champs can pull out of the fire today.
Unbeaten over fences at Leopardstown A 23-length winner of this last season Two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner
Beaten by Fact To File last time out
Star rating:
Bet on Galopin Des Champs with Sky Bet
7 I Am Maximus
- Age: 8
- Weight: 11st 10lb
- Form: 14311-
- Rating: 169
- Jockey: Jody McGarvey
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Odds: 10/1
The enigma that is I Am Maximus has bags of talent and his own way of doing things, as seen in his wins in the Irish and English Grand Nationals.
But, as we saw last season, he finds it a bit much when he steps up into Grade 1 company.
What I Am Maximus has going for him is that he won first time out last season in the Drinmore Novice’s Chase on his final start as a novice.
If he can put it all together against the best staying chasers in training, then he can be coxed into grabbing a place.
Irish and English Grand National winner Won first time out last season
Well beaten in this last season
Star rating:
Bet on I Am Maximus with Paddy Power
4 Gentlemansgame
- Age: 8
- Weight: 11st 10lb
- Form: 21P54-
- Rating: 160
- Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe
- Trainer: Mouse Morris
- Odds: 25/1
After a chasing debut on this day, on this card in 2022, Gentlemansgame looked to have a bright future over fences, but a series of injuries has seen him have a stop-start career since.
But he can perform to a high level when he is on song.
Last season, Gentlemansgame recorded a win over Bravemansgame in the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase, but he struggled when stepping into Grade 1 company.
With Gentlemansgame liking to race up with the pace, he will have a massive problem going the gallop with Galopin Des Champs.
If these tactics are adopted today, his race may be run before it even starts.
Gentlemansgame likes to race up with the pace, and with the likelihood that Galopin Des Champs will be up there with him, he may run his race before it even starts as he did in the Gold Cup.
Has run with credit in Grade 1s before Runs well when fresh
Won’t be able to lay up with Galopin Des Champs
Star rating:
Bet on Gentlemansgame with Midnite
5 Grangeclare West
- Age: 8
- Weight: 11st 10lb
- Form: 1/11-P
- Rating: 159
- Jockey: Michael O’Sullivan
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Odds: 28/1
Grangeclare West promised so much last season after two facile wins over Heart Wood, and then Corbetts Cross over course and distance, but injury has been his enemy.
He made his comeback in the John Durkan this season but ended up paying for trying to force the pace with Galopin Des Champs and eventually pulled up when tailed off before the last.
It’s hard to be confident about what Grangeclare West can bring to the table today, but if he can match his course and distance win last season, he can be one of the contenders for place money.
Impressive course and distance winner last season
Pulled up on his return
Star rating:
Bet on Grangeclare West with Betfred
6 Heart Wood
- Age: 6
- Weight: 11st 10lb
- Form: 213-12
- Rating: 154
- Jockey: Rachael Blackmore
- Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
- Odds: 33/1
I had high hopes for Heart Wood this season, but I have lost all hope now.
He made a perfect start to the season when winning like a horse that will kick on this season when easily taking care of Corbetts Cross and Buddy One, but on his last start in novice company, he couldn’t get past Croke Park (won again since).
This opposition is a different ball game from anything he has faced in the past, and his only start over three miles in his novice chase days resulted in a comprehensive defeat behind Inothewayurthinking.
Based on all the evidence we have, he will struggle today.
An easy winner on his seasonal comeback
Beat in novice company last time out Well beaten over three miles at Aintree
Star rating:
8 Inothewayurthinking
- Age: 6
- Weight: 11st 10lb
- Form: 3911-7
- Rating: 158
- Jockey: Keith Donoghue
- Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
- Odds: 33/1
Inothewayurthinking was part of one of the biggest gambles in Cheltenham Festival history last season when making a mockery of a mark of 145 in the Kim Mir.
He showed that it was no fluke when taking the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree with Iroko and Heart Wood comfortably held.
This six-year-old is a horse who will improve with racing, as he showed last season, and you can forgive him for his below-par run in the John Durkan over a trip that is well short of his best.
Given that he is likely to leave that run well behind him here, Inothewayurthinking becomes a very interesting each-way player.
Don’t be surprised if he is bang there turning in.
An easy winner of a Grade 1 novice chase last season Talented but still raw
Need to leave him run at Punchestown well behind Can jump slowly at his fences
Star rating:
Bet on Inothewayurthinking with SBK
1 Conflated
- Age: 10
- Weight: 11st 10lb
- Form: 26-U58
- Rating: 163
- Jockey: Danny Gilligan
- Trainer: Gordon Elliott
- Odds: 50/1
This former Grade 1 winning chaser has looked a shell of his former self this season.
Having been beaten a combined 88 lengths in his last two starts, one of which included a spin over the cross-country fences at Cheltenham.
It’s impossible to give Conflated a chance for a place finish, let alone a serious win chance.
Former course and distance Grade 1 winner
Well past his best
Star rating:
9 Minella Cocooner
- Age: 8
- Weight: 11st 10lb
- Form: 3631-5
- Rating: 158
- Jockey: Sean O’Keeffe
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Odds: 66/1
It’s not often that you can confidently rule out a Willie Mullins runner, but Minella Cocooner is one you can rule out.
He can run well for a long way, but this Willie Mullins inmate will have his eyes firmly locked on a certain race in April at Aintree.
Trained by Willie Mullins
Won’t want to be near the finish with Aintree in mind
Star rating:
Bet on Minella Cocooner with Copybet
Grade 1 Savills Chase verdict
It’s not been since the days of Kauto Star vs. Denman that we have had so much excitement over two top-class staying chasers going head-to-head.
It may be 1-0 to Fact To File going into today, but today will be when GALOPIN DES CHAMPS makes it all square heading into the Dublin Racing Festival in February.
Current Betting: Fact To File 7/4, Galopin Des Champs 7/4, I Am Maximus 10/1, Gentlemansgame 25/1, Grangeclare West 28/1, Heart Wood 33/1, Inothewayurthinking 33/1, 50/1 bar.
About the author
Andrew Halligan
My name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing pundit and founder of YouTube’s The Finishing Line Podcast. Horse racing is a thrilling spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its blend of drama and excitement. Whether you’re a jumps or flat fan, I will use my experience of working within the horse racing industry to bring the best of what this sport has to offer.
You can follow Andrew on X (@Halligan88).
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