Mullins Raises Concerns Over Cheltenham Ground After Fact To File Withdrawal
Mark Walsh (centre) rode Fact To File to Cheltenham victory at the 2025 Festival.
One of the most successful trainers in horse racing has expressed serious concerns about the quality of the ground at the Cheltenham Festival, threatening not to bring horses to future events if conditions do not improve.
Fact To File, trained by Willie Mullins, was withdrawn shortly before Thursday's feature race, the Ryanair Chase, as her team judged the ground was not soft enough for her to compete safely.
Fact To File was the favourite in the betting markets for the race, having won the event at Cheltenham the previous year.
However, Mullins explained that they decided against running this year because they felt the ground was too hard, and that Cheltenham organisers had not fulfilled promises to water the course, which he believes put 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."
Mullins is the most successful trainer in Cheltenham history, having saddled 118 winners. He is regarded as the most prominent trainer in Ireland and has also trained the last two winners of the Grand National.
The 69-year-old stated he had concerns about the ground from early on Thursday, with his apprehensions confirmed as the day progressed.
Shortly before Fact To File’s withdrawal, racing fans witnessed 40-1 shot White Noise win the Mares' Novices' Hurdle, and the Stayers' Hurdle was claimed by Home By The Lee, another long-priced victor at 33-1.
Mullins himself experienced defeat by an outsider in the final race of the day when his horse Road To Home was narrowly beaten by 22-1 shot Ask Brewster in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap.
"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."
Heavy rain had been forecast for Cheltenham on Thursday morning, but despite some wind and rain, the conditions were less severe than expected and the going was officially good for the Ryanair Chase.
Fact To File was the only horse Mullins withdrew on Thursday, with another 15 of his trainees competing.
Five horses trained by Mullins won on the opening two days of the Festival, but none secured victory on day three.
Two horses died during the opening two days of the 2026 Festival – Hansard on Tuesday and HMS Seahorse on Wednesday.
The Ryanair Chase was eventually won by Heart Wood, who defeated Jonbon – the new favourite following Fact To File’s absence – by several lengths.
has contacted Cheltenham Racecourse for comment.
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