Renowned trainer Willie Mullins has voiced his dissatisfaction with the going at Cheltenham Festival, following the withdrawal of his star chaser Fact To File from the Ryanair Chase on Thursday.
Despite the official ground rating at Prestbury Park being “good, good to soft in places” for the third day, Mullins and owner JP McManus felt conditions were unsuitable. After McManus walked the course and early race performances hinted at firmer than ideal ground, Mullins decided not to risk his Irish Gold Cup winner.
Speaking to Racing TV, Mullins explained, “JP walked the track this morning, and I came across it after exercising horses. Looking at Bambino Fever in the first race, the good ground was too firm for her, and she couldn’t perform. These horses are incredibly valuable and hard to replace, so we decided to withdraw.”
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Mullins expressed disappointment that promised watering had not sufficiently softened the course. “We were told watering would take place, but I’m not sure it has been done. We waited for the rain forecast, but it never arrived,” he said. “For jumps racing, we want softer ground. Good ground is just not suitable for the top-level horses we bring to the Festival. If the course remains like this, we won’t bring our best horses in future.”
Acknowledging the unpredictable weather, Mullins still emphasized the importance of course preparation. “Few complain about watering and risk of too much rain. This situation isn’t ideal for the kind of horses we campaign. While some horses may suit firmer going, most top National Hunt horses perform best on softer turf.”