BERRY'S STRAIGHT TALKING

FACT TO FILE is poised to defend his Ryanair Chase crown without another race after a below-par showing in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.

- BY DAVID YATES

Punters sent Willie Mullins' nineyear-old off at 3-1 at Kempton but Mark Walsh's mount could manage just sixth of eight behind the Ben Pauling-saddled The Jukebox Man.

Fact To File, beaten a neck by stablemate and King George third Gaelic Warrior when defending his title in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase 33 days earlier, is William Hill's 5-2

favourite to gain back-to-back Ryanair Chase successes at Cheltenham on March 12.

The JP McManus-owned gelding will receive an entry in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on January 31 but is more likely to head straight to the Festival.