IT'S A FACT!

Rising star is new Gold Cup favourite

- DAVID YATES

FACT TO FILE is William Hill's new 9-4 favourite for the 2025 Cheltenham Gold Cup after leading home a JP McManus 1-2 in a John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase thriller.

Last season's Brown Advisory Novices' Chase victor took over from his Willie Mullins stablemate and winner of the last two Gold Cups Galopin Des Champs at the last of the two-and-a-half-trading yesterday, said: "I was really taken with what he did from the last to the winning post.