Ready for the rematch? Galopin Des Champs and Fact To File could meet again in a star-studded Savills Chase

The first four home from an epic John Durkan Chase have all been entered in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown's Christmas festival with stablemates Galopin Des Champs and Fact To File all set for another blockbuster showdown.

Indeed, seven of the eight horses who contested the John Durkan Chase won by Fact To File at Punchestown last month have been entered in the €175,000 Grade 1 event over 3m on December 28 which promises to be a real humdinger given Gerri Colombe, Corbetts Cross, I Am Maximus and Envoi Allen also feature among the 21 entries.

It was in the Savills Chase last year where Galopin Des Champs produced a mesmerising performance to beat Gerri Colombe by 23 lengths and the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero has been made 6-4 favourite to win it again by Paddy Power.

Fact To File, who edged out Spillane's Tower and Galopin Des Champs in a thrilling climax to the John Durkan, is 6-1 with Paddy Power whose traders obviously feel there is a chance he will be supplemented for the King George.

Gerri Colombe: needs to bounce backCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Gerri Colombe was well beaten by Galopin Des Champs in the race last year and must bounce back from a below-par reappearance in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal, but Gordon Elliott thinks he can. He is 6-1 to go one better than last year.

Elliott said: "Gerri Colombe wasn't himself at Down Royal. I knew very early on that he didn't look right, and the fact that he didn't even finish out his race there was a real tell-tale sign. He always finishes out his races, but he didn't that day. I think you will see a different horse at Christmas and he seems to be back in good form at home again now. It could be a cracker of a race."

The other Grade 1 on December 28 is the Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle over just shy of three miles where Stayers' Hurdle hero Teahupoo and the hugely promising Brighterdaysahead are two of Elliott's six entries in the race.

The first Grade 1 of the four-day extravaganza is now the Racing Post Long Distance Novice Chase over three miles on December 26 and Elliott is responsible for a dozen of the 27 entries, with last season's Martin Pipe winner Better Days Ahead and recent Drinmore Novice Chase winner Croke Park among them.

Brighterdaysahead and State Man: set for a festive rematchCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Willie Mullins has entered last season's star staying novice hurdler Dancing City, who has yet to jump a fence in public, as well as Impaire Et Passe and Lecky Watson. Last season's Supreme winner Slade Steel is also entered.

Mullins certainly seems to hold the key to the Paddy Power Rewards Club Chase on December 27 as two-time Champion Chase winner Energumene, last season's Arkle hero Gaelic Warrior and Ferny Hollow feature among the 15 entries. The reigning Champion Chase hero, Captain Guinness, has also been entered.

Salvator Mundi is the ante-post favourite for the 2025 Supreme Novices' Hurdle and his name is among the 30 entries for the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle on the same day. The €200,000 Paddy Power Chase is sure to be as competitive as ever with no fewer than 51 entries headed by Nick Rockett.

The December Hurdle on the final day, December 29, could be a corker as last year's winner State Man, his recent Morgiana Hurdle conqueror Brighterdaysahead and last Sunday's imperious Hatton's Grace Hurdle heroine Lossiemouth have all been entered. Also among the 12 entries is multiple Grade 1 winner Mystical Power.

Savills Chase (Leopardstown, December 28)

Paddy Power: 6-4 Galopin Des Champs, 4 Spillane's Tower, 6 Fact To File, Fastorslow, Gerri Colombe, 8 Corbetts Cross, I Am Maximus, 14 Envoi Allen, Hewick, 20 Found A Fifty 25 bar

Read these next:

The unbeaten Champion Hurdle dark horse who Willie Mullins says is 'something special' 

Bookmakers might have blundered by going 16-1 about Willie Mullins' exciting French import for Cheltenham 

'He still seems to have a swagger about him' - Paul Townend excited about Energumene's return in Sunday's Hilly Way at Cork 

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.