Patrick Mullins feels Fact To File can get closer to Galopin Des Champs in Saturday's Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup.
Having finished in front of his stablemate when they reappeared in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase earlier in the campaign, the eight-year-old was swept aside in the rematch in the Savills Chase, beaten seven-and-a-half lengths.
However Mullins told Sporting Life: "Galopin was emphatic at Christmas but got everything his own way as such. He was unharried and unhurried up front, able to set his own fractions, while Fact To File raced too keenly and made a mistake because of that. In a three mile race you can’t race too keenly so while Galopin is the champion and sets the standard, I do think Fact To File has the potential to get closer to him. I don’t know if he can beat him but he can get closer to him.
“It will be fascinating to see what tactics Mark Walsh, Frank Berry and JP McManus decide to employ. Do they double down on trying to get the horse to settle and conserve his energy? He might be a faster horse than Galopin Des Champs which is why that could make sense.
“Or do you go forward and let Fact To File use his jumping and help him settle by going that half-a-stride faster and put it up to the other horse from the outset? Obviously that’s a dangerous tactic but it will be interesting to see what they decide to do.”
