The champion trainer withdrew the odds-on favourite Fact To File from the Ryanair Chase after deeming the ground was unsuitable for the Irish Gold Cup winner
Willie Mullins pulled out one of this year’s Cheltenham Festival ‘bankers’ on Thursday, unhappy with the state of the going at the track. The JP McManus-owned Fact To File is one of the best chasers in training, who captured the Ryanair Chase in 2025 and was under consideration for the Cheltenham Gold Cup after recording an impressive victory in the Irish Gold Cup.
In the end connections opted to defend the Ryanair crown but had hoped for much softer going than the official description of good (good to soft in places). As the racing moved to the New Course after a dry first two days, track officials carried out selective watering with 3-5mm applied. Another 2-3mm was forecast during the afternoon.
Connections warned they were worried about conditions for Fact To File through the day but waited until four races had been run before making their final decision.
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Mullins explained: “We walked the track this morning, JP walked the track this morning, I happened to walk it. Coming across the track from exercising horses and I thought wow this ground is going to be too good for Bambino Fever and sure enough in the first race she wasn’t able to act on it.
“We waited and waited all day for rain that was promised and it hasn’t come so we made the decision not to run. These horses are too hard to find, too hard to get. We would like to have soft in the description of the ground.”
He went on: “Good ground is not good enough for the type of individual we are buying and trying to race and have the top horses at the best festival. If the ground is going to be like this we are not going to bring them.
“We were promised watering and I not sure the watering we were promised has been done so, I’m a little bit annoyed about that, when I thought there was going to be more watering done and it hasn’t been done. I know the weather forecast hasn’t been kind but very few people complain about too much rain.
“This isn’t good for the type of horses we’re bringing over here. I know it suits some horses but for the majority of the good big national hunt horses we would like it a little softer.”
McManus was fully behind his trainer. “I have to say, I’m very strong on it. I walk the course every day – I just always felt it needed more water,” he said. “That’s how I felt. Particularly at the top of the course there, it’s very beaten up from the previous runs. You’ve a crossover there and you’re only as strong as the weakest link in a course.
“It doesn’t matter if 80 per cent or 90 per cent of it is right, if 10 per cent of it isn’t right, that’s good enough for me. I was very happy when Willie agreed to take him out and I was very happy that he did that. We were worried all week about it.
“I think, going forward, they’ll have to pay more attention to parts of the track. You’re talking about winter-time horses in the first half of March – you’re not talking about racing in October or November here. Everybody has a different view but, for me, I think they could have done more.“Certain horses, it suits, but Fact To File is a real old-style chaser and, if you want to have him next year, you take a risk taking your chance today.”
In Fact To File’s absence Jonbon carried the McManus hopes of another success. While he maintained his brilliant record of never finishing out of the first two places, he was well beaten by the Henry de Bromhead-trained Heart Wood, ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe.