One of racing’s most successful trainers has threatened not to bring horses to Cheltenham Festival in future over concerns about the quality of the ground.
The Willie Mullins-trained Fact To File was withdrawn shortly before Thursday’s feature race, the Ryanair Chase, as her team did not think the ground was soft enough.
Fact To File was favourite in the betting markets for the race, having won the event at Cheltenham last year.
But Mullins said they decided not to race this year as they felt the ground was too hard and that promises from Cheltenham organisers to water the course had not been kept, putting his horse’s safety at risk.
“We think the ground is not good enough for the type of individual we are buying, we are trying to race. If the ground is like this, we are not going to bring them,” Mullins told Racing TV.
“We were promised watering, and I’m not sure that has been done so I am a little annoyed about that. I know the forecast has not been kind, but few people complain about too much rain.
“The conditions suit some horses, but for the big favourites we would like it softer.”
Jon Pullin, clerk of the course at Cheltenham Racecourse, said they had watered the majority of the ground on Wednesday evening.
Pullin told BBC Sport: “After racing concluded on Wednesday, selective watering took place on the majority of the new course to maintain the going description of Good, Good to Soft in places.
“Our focus is on producing safe jumping ground for all our participants and that has been provided today.”
Two horses died on the opening two days of the 2026 Festival – Hansard on Tuesday, then HMS Seahorse on Wednesday – but all came home safe on Thursday.
Mullins is the most successful trainer in the history of Cheltenham, having saddled 118 winners. Regarded as the most prominent trainer in Ireland, he has also trained the last two winners of the Grand National.
Five Mullins-trained horses won on the opening two days of the Festival, but none on day three.
The 69-year-old said he had concerns about the ground from early on Thursday, with his fears confirmed as the day continued.
Mullins added: “I talked with JP [McManus, Fact To File’s owner], and said, these horses are too difficult to acquire.
“We waited all day for rain that was half-promised, so we made the decision not to run.”
Fact To File was the only horse Mullins withdrew on Thursday, with another 15 of his trainees running.
Shortly before Fact To File’s withdrawal, racing fans saw 40-1 shot White Noise win the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle and the Stayers’ Hurdle was taken by Home By The Lee, another long-priced victor at 33-1.
Mullins himself directly suffered at the hands of an outsider in the final race of the day, as his Road To Home was beaten by a nose by 22-1 shot Ask Brewster in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap.
Heavy rain had been forecast at Cheltenham on Thursday morning, but while there was some wind and rain it was less than expected and the going was good for the Ryanair Chase.
It was eventually won by Heart Wood, which beat Jonbon – the new favourite following the absence of Fact Or File – by several lengths.
