Reality To File is the brand new favorite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March after pipping Spillane’s Tower to win the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown.
The race marked the return of twin Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs and a renewal of the Paul Townend-ridden horse’s rivalry with Fastorslow.
The established pair seemed robust off the mark and, because the race reached the house flip, Galopin Des Champs led the star-studded area.
However between the ultimate fences, final season’s type novices Reality To File and Spillane’s Tower closed the hole.
After each confirmed their pedigree with a pair of wins on the highest degree as novices final time period, the JP McManus-owned duo completed strongly and went head-to-head over the ultimate half-furlong.
Reality To File, beneath Mark Walsh, edged to victory to offer coach Willie Mullins a tenth win within the race and is now about 9-4 for the Gold Cup.
Galopin Des Champs was two and 1 / 4 lengths again in third with Fastorslow in fourth.
“It was a terrific race – it was most likely the most effective John Durkan I’ve seen,” Mullins informed RTE.
“Reality To File is a correct racehorse, it’s going to be a hell of a season.
“I used to be actually taken by Reality To File and what he did from the final to the profitable publish. I believed he was overwhelmed by Spillane’s Tower, however Reality To File put his head down.”