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'If the ground is going to be like this, we're not going to bring them' - Willie Mullins expresses concern over Cheltenham going
Willie Mullins warned he would stop bringing horses to Cheltenham due to concerns about the ground after he felt compelled to withdraw Fact To File from the Ryanair Chase.
The multiple Irish champion and reigning title holder in Britain withdrew the hot favourite as he felt conditions were too quick for last year's winner.
He also said the ground, which was described officially as good, good to soft in places, had counted against Bambino Fever, who finished 16th after being sent off even-money favourite for the opening Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle.
Mullins waited until midway through the afternoon before pulling out Fact To File and said on Racing TV: "We waited and waited all day for rain that was half promised. It hasn't come. So we made the decision not to run. These horses are too difficult to get and to acquire. When you have them you mind them.
"It's jump racing. We find we would like to have soft in the description of the ground. Good ground we think is not good enough for the type of individual we're buying and trying to race. If the ground is going to be like this, we're not going to bring them."
Thursday's racing was the first staged at this year's festival on the New course, which was selectively watered overnight with rain forecast on the third day of the festival.
"We were promised watering," said Mullins, who has won five Grade 1 races at Cheltenham this week. "And I'm not sure the watering we were promised has been done. I'm a little bit annoyed about that.
"I know the weather forecast hasn't been kind but very few people complain about too much rain and a bit of watering. But 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'd like it a little softer."
Fact To File's owner JP McManus backed the decision to withdraw him from the Ryanair and said: "I walked the course every day. I just always felt it needed more water. That's how I felt. Particularly at the top of the course, it's very beaten up from the previous runs and you've a crossover there.
"You're only as strong as the weakest link in the course and it doesn't matter if 80 per cent or 90 per cent is right. If ten per cent of it isn't right, that's good enough for me. I was very happy when Willie agreed to take him out. It was for discussion because 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 wintertime horses in the first half of March, you're not talking about racing in October, November or whatever. Everybody has a different view but for me I think they could have done more."
Asked whether his concerns might lead to his withdrawing either of his runners in tomorrow's Gold Cup, McManus said: "I'm not sure. With Spillane's Tower, you have the same problem as you had today with him. The other horse, Inothewayurthinkin, I think he'd take his chance anyway."
The Cheltenham area is forecast to receive around 10mm of rainfall on Thursday evening into Friday, which informed decisions on the level of irrigation, according to the clerk of the course.
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Jon Pullin said that 4mm had been applied overnight and defended not putting down more on the basis that doing so could have rendered the course "vulnerable" to heavier than expected rainfall.
"We have had one of the wettest starts to a year here in recent years, so we know that the moisture is there underneath and we've only really been dry for the last ten days. The water table is very high," he said in response to Mullins' criticism.
"It is just the top that has dried out. We put the 4mm on last night with a view that we knew rain was coming today but we just wanted to make sure we had enough moisture in the ground for the start of today's racing. What I am getting back from the riders is that it is riding as described."
He added: "It's a difficult position. If we weren't going to get the rain today, maybe we could have put more on but, given the forecast that we've got, which could easily be 10mm after racing today, we had to be careful and not go too far."
Asked to respond to Mullins' suggestion that most connections would be happy if it ended up softer rather than being too good, he said: "We certainly couldn't put 10mm on overnight because it would have taken too long but, could we have put more on? Potentially, yes, but we just felt the 4mm would put enough moisture in to start the day off in a safe position and not put us in a vulnerable position if we get 15mm or 20mm tonight."
https://www.racingpost.com/news/festivals/cheltenham-festival/if-the-ground-is-going-to-be-like-this-were-not-going-to-bring-them-willie-mullins-expresses-concern-over-cheltenham-going-aNvr54g5FIJT/
Willie Mullins warned he would stop bringing horses to Cheltenham due to concerns about the ground after he felt compelled to withdraw Fact To File from the Ryanair Chase.
The multiple Irish champion and reigning title holder in Britain withdrew the hot favourite as he felt conditions were too quick for last year's winner.
He also said the ground, which was described officially as good, good to soft in places, had counted against Bambino Fever, who finished 16th after being sent off even-money favourite for the opening Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle.
Mullins waited until midway through the afternoon before pulling out Fact To File and said on Racing TV: "We waited and waited all day for rain that was half promised. It hasn't come. So we made the decision not to run. These horses are too difficult to get and to acquire. When you have them you mind them.
"It's jump racing. We find we would like to have soft in the description of the ground. Good ground we think is not good enough for the type of individual we're buying and trying to race. If the ground is going to be like this, we're not going to bring them."
Thursday's racing was the first staged at this year's festival on the New course, which was selectively watered overnight with rain forecast on the third day of the festival.
"We were promised watering," said Mullins, who has won five Grade 1 races at Cheltenham this week. "And I'm not sure the watering we were promised has been done. I'm a little bit annoyed about that.
"I know the weather forecast hasn't been kind but very few people complain about too much rain and a bit of watering. But 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'd like it a little softer."
Fact To File's owner JP McManus backed the decision to withdraw him from the Ryanair and said: "I walked the course every day. I just always felt it needed more water. That's how I felt. Particularly at the top of the course, it's very beaten up from the previous runs and you've a crossover there.
"You're only as strong as the weakest link in the course and it doesn't matter if 80 per cent or 90 per cent is right. If ten per cent of it isn't right, that's good enough for me. I was very happy when Willie agreed to take him out. It was for discussion because 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 wintertime horses in the first half of March, you're not talking about racing in October, November or whatever. Everybody has a different view but for me I think they could have done more."
Asked whether his concerns might lead to his withdrawing either of his runners in tomorrow's Gold Cup, McManus said: "I'm not sure. With Spillane's Tower, you have the same problem as you had today with him. The other horse, Inothewayurthinkin, I think he'd take his chance anyway."
The Cheltenham area is forecast to receive around 10mm of rainfall on Thursday evening into Friday, which informed decisions on the level of irrigation, according to the clerk of the course.
--------------------------------------------
Jon Pullin said that 4mm had been applied overnight and defended not putting down more on the basis that doing so could have rendered the course "vulnerable" to heavier than expected rainfall.
"We have had one of the wettest starts to a year here in recent years, so we know that the moisture is there underneath and we've only really been dry for the last ten days. The water table is very high," he said in response to Mullins' criticism.
"It is just the top that has dried out. We put the 4mm on last night with a view that we knew rain was coming today but we just wanted to make sure we had enough moisture in the ground for the start of today's racing. What I am getting back from the riders is that it is riding as described."
He added: "It's a difficult position. If we weren't going to get the rain today, maybe we could have put more on but, given the forecast that we've got, which could easily be 10mm after racing today, we had to be careful and not go too far."
Asked to respond to Mullins' suggestion that most connections would be happy if it ended up softer rather than being too good, he said: "We certainly couldn't put 10mm on overnight because it would have taken too long but, could we have put more on? Potentially, yes, but we just felt the 4mm would put enough moisture in to start the day off in a safe position and not put us in a vulnerable position if we get 15mm or 20mm tonight."
https://www.racingpost.com/news/festivals/cheltenham-festival/if-the-ground-is-going-to-be-like-this-were-not-going-to-bring-them-willie-mullins-expresses-concern-over-cheltenham-going-aNvr54g5FIJT/
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Don't agree with Mullins on this occasion and his threat to stay away has to be taken with a pinch of salt given the prize money and prestige on offer.
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Hes not moaned about the ground when 5 of his horses have won races so fr this year the cheeky arrogant cnt.
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They really should amend the running orders according to the weather to accomodate Mullins' runners......or for future festivals keep it on the fast side and tell him to fro.
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there good to soft
In going description, they’re gonna get attacked Clear as day GOOD ground as been from day dot Be honest than no come backs But time time again We get lied to about ground And if ain’t that it’s crazy starts Doing any one that’s had a bet Not have bet myself till flag up From tomorrow Been done few times this week Embarrassing starting |
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"The conditions suit some horses, but for the big favourites we would like it softer."
Absolutely pathetic from Mullins |
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A few years ago admittedly but ground officially good to firm wasn’t an issue for his Florida Pearl when winning at the festival. Nothing wrong with jumping on a sound surface. A much better spectacle than a legless finish after a slog.
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tell him to stay in ireland then , and dont bring your jump horses to r ascot when good ground is expected .
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The starts and the ground woeful and the lost AP money on FACT it is a shambles and embarrassing. How can you bet with confidence is a lottery as Fattie says the shenanigans at the start no control from the starter geezer and the watering. Willie is dead right will somebody be accountable probably not after the review they should be and the very quick times what about horsie welfare.
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Agreed. Tell him to do one.
He’s got a cheek telling them the ground conditions he wants. |
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trying to blackmail the cheltenham cotc - the softer the better for willie
watering in early march fck off |
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didn't mind running Ethical Diamond on Firm at Del Mar though
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Something very sinister going on here. I bet the "owner" wasn't on ante post eh..
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Liberator of the Oppressed.
Why is it a welfare issue? Show me the stats where horses are killed due to running on spring ground. |
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'If the ground is going to be like this, we're not going to bring them'
Absolutely embarrassing from Mullins ...... you know where the door is mate. |
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Bambino, Jade De Grugy and Ballyburn get turned over and the toys come out the pram, it's laughable.
Bang average trainer made to look better than he is by the horses. |
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Same sense of entitlement as Mullins showed when Be My Royal tested positive for morphine after being first past the post in the 2002 Hennessy at Newbury. He pursued the courts through the courts for so long that Be My Royal wasn't officially disqualified until January 2004, which meant that Lavinia Taylor, the permit holder who owned and trained the eventual winner Gingembre, never ever got to hold the trophy.
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*pursued the matter through the courts
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Put Mullins in a roomfull of owners whose Horses want GD ground. Cheeky phecker.
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Wrote about it on here before, he is absolutely ruthless (or whomever is pulling the strings in the outfit is). Nothing wrong with that in of itself, but such a contrast to his lovable grandad, slightly kooky public persona. The mask slipped a bit today. What is it, 5 grade 1s so far and he's moaning about the going
 The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, either  |
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This has been driven by mcmanus though with mullins just rowing in behid him
I was very happy when Willie agreed to take him out. |
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When he was in the running for UK trainer championship, and hooked all his horses from Sandown as soon as it became mathematically impossible to win it, it wasn't jp.
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Cheltenham does not revolve around WPM.
Arrogance of the highest degree. He's done himself no favours whatsoever with a stance and outlook like this. By all means withdraw any horse on account of the ground but ground conditions should not be controlled or dictated to by any trainer. End of story. |
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... First time during my time here I have seen a thread 100% in agreement, the mans still breaking records and he doesnt know it.
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If he didnt bring horses to Cheltenham you can be sure his owners would go elsewhere.
It wouldnt be a bad thing for the sport either. |
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It also buys into the false narrative that spring ground is in someway unsafe. PETA will be rubbing their hands that such a prominent trainer is seen to be pressurusing the sport at its biggest festival for "safer" ground.
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I wonder if he was feeling peed off about the whole saga with FTF. WPM clearly wanted to run the horse in the Gold Cup in the first place. Might just have been venting.
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I think he's right pi55ed off with Mcmanus over the whole FTF debacle I also didn't think he was that impressed with Mcmanus's decision of Walsh being replaced
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He who pays the piper....................
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Was he making another point in the race as impaire et passe drifted like a barge and was pulled up. Do we now call the meeting Mullinsham? He would like that.
Owner proving once again that he uses racing as his own personal plaything. Horrible individual. |
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Just buy some horses that go on Good ground.....they won't because it's mostly soft ground in Ireland.The going should just be whatever it is...
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Quite clearly the clerk of the course's fault.
They need to phone Willie after racing each day and ask him what ground conditions he wants for the following day and then discuss how much water to be put on overnight.  The going should always be down to the prevailing weather conditions with enough water put on each night to make the track safe for horses to run. The ONLY reason to water the track is for horse safety. If you owned Best Mate and along comes Willie saying to drench the course, how would you feel? In the interview his self entitlement is astonishing. No thought at all to any other trainers or owners. All about me me me and what I want is what should happen. |
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BBC article reporting this:
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. Very tough gig for the clerk of the course. Imagine if he'd have given it a good watering and then the heavy rain arrived and turned it into a bog. |
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strontium • March 12, 2026 10:50 PM GMT
I wonder if he was feeling peed off about the whole saga with FTF. WPM clearly wanted to run the horse in the Gold Cup in the first place. Might just have been venting. Can you put up the quote for that please? |
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If they had gone for the Gold Cup they would have got the ground they were supposedly looking for! Ryanair should be a grade 2 or ideally not be there at all anyway
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There’s something bigger going on here that needs addressing, they pulled the wool over the eyes of punters and the scabby journos on ITV did NO fronting up as Ed likes to say.
Jonbon was left in the race because he was always going to run, they wanted a Festival win, they even put people away saying his preference was Aintree. I doubt that the horse was ever going to run!  Look back he was 3 rd in the PP Gold cup last year before bolting up at Cheltenham. He had a hard race last time out, was the horse primed to win at Cheltenham or in Leopardstown? I believe the latter. Race comments from last years PP Gold Cup, look like a horse that was trying????? towards rear, slight mistake 6 out, headway into 5th after 4 out, pushed along after 2 out and 2nd approaching last, ridden and no impression on winner run-in, dropped to 3rd close home This year tracked leaders, 5th halfway, headway to lead briefly after 4 out, led again travelling well 2 out and asserted approaching last, ridden and kept on well run-in There you have it, his target was never. Cheltenham! The ground was a convenient excuse for another plan. I’m sure another excuse would have been found had it been needed. |
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He was given a gallop last year before Chelts, as was GW this year!
He was pulling which looked like he was over racing cos Townend was pulling him back! FTF needed a confidence booster after Kempton. |
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Fantastic. Keep it up. Mr Clerk of the Course. It was totally clear why the watering was not more extensive. If you checked the Met Office rain radar prediction (i.e. based on rain already falling elswewhere that is moving towards Cheltenham), you would see that considerable rain was expected. The CoC would have been pilloried if the possible soft turned to heavy. But more significantly (and even more fantastic), the decision didn't suit Mr Mullins. Oh dear, oh dear! Shockers! Take it on the chin Mr Mullins and stop mumping your gums. Courses are now watered or not watered to suit any individual horse (or trainer) Besides anything that stops Cheltenham becoming the Willie Mullins Festival is to be welcomed.
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Slight error !! Courses are NOT watered to suit individual horses or trainers
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The ITV morning show'.
Wicked Willie's name not mentioned with regard to the watering issue. |