Horse Racing Today: Cheltenham Festival 2026 — Willie Mullins unhappy with ground as Fact To File withdrawn

horse racing today: Willie Mullins has warned he may stop bringing top horses to the Cheltenham Festival after withdrawing Fact To File shortly before Thursday’s Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse, citing concerns that the going was too firm and promises to water the course had not been fulfilled. The withdrawal removed the favourite from the feature race and followed Mullins’ wider complaint about suitability and safety for the type of horses he trains. Cheltenham officials say selective watering was carried out the evening before to maintain the going.

Horse Racing Today — What happened on day three at Cheltenham

Fact To File, trained by Willie Mullins and last year’s winner of the same race, was withdrawn shortly before Thursday’s feature race because Mullins’ team felt the ground was not soft enough for the mare. Mullins, the most successful trainer in Cheltenham history with 118 winners, said they had waited for promised watering that did not materialise and decided not to run the filly to protect her safety.

The withdrawal came on a day when Mullins’ stable had earlier shown strength at the meeting — five of his horses won on the opening two days — but produced no winners on day three. Heart Wood, trained by Henry De Bromhead, went on to win the day’s big race after Fact To File was taken out of the contest.

The running order across the opening two days of the Festival was marred by the deaths of two horses: Hansard on Tuesday and HMS Seahorse on Wednesday. Officials maintained that the focus was on producing safe jumping ground.

Immediate reactions from trainers, owners and officials

Willie Mullins, trainer, said: “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. ” He added that he had discussed the decision with JP McManus and that they had waited all day for rain that had been expected.

JP McManus, owner of Fact To File, said he felt the course needed more water and was relieved when Mullins agreed to withdraw the horse. “We were worried all week about it, ” he said, and urged greater attention to parts of the track going forward.

Jon Pullin, clerk of the course at Cheltenham Racecourse, said selective watering had been carried out on the majority of the new course after racing concluded on Wednesday evening to maintain the going description of Good, Good to Soft in places. Pullin said the team’s focus was on producing safe jumping ground for all participants.

Quick context and what to expect next

The dispute over the going centres on differing priorities: Mullins emphasised the vulnerability and value of the top horses he purchases and prepares for National Hunt racing, while the clerk of the course described targeted maintenance to preserve safety. Mullins also noted his long record at the meeting, including training the last two winners of the Grand National, as context for his view on what conditions top contenders require.

Looking ahead, organisers and trainers will face pressure to resolve the disagreement before the next major fixtures. Mullins’ threat not to bring his top horses if the ground remains as he described it raises the prospect of changes to maintenance practices or clearer commitments on watering ahead of future big-race days. horse racing today remains centred on whether Cheltenham’s course management will alter its approach to keep elite participants satisfied and protect horse welfare on subsequent race days (ET).