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leif
12 Mar 26 20:28
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Date Joined: 26 Jun 08
| Topic/replies: 14,714 | Blogger: leif's blog
'If the ground is going to be like this, we're not going to bring them' - Willie Mullins expresses concern over Cheltenham goingShocked

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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Report leif March 12, 2026 7:32 PM GMT
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.
Report 1830 March 12, 2026 7:42 PM GMT
Hes not moaned about the ground when 5 of his horses have won races so fr this year the cheeky arrogant cnt.
Report swiftynifty March 12, 2026 7:51 PM GMT
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.
Report FATTIEWHITEYSLOVEADRINK March 12, 2026 8:18 PM GMT
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
Report Racingqueen March 12, 2026 8:21 PM GMT
"The conditions suit some horses, but for the big favourites we would like it softer."

Absolutely pathetic from Mullins
Report WolfJFlywheel March 12, 2026 8:22 PM GMT
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.
Report elisjohn March 12, 2026 8:22 PM GMT
tell him to stay in ireland then , and dont bring your jump horses to r ascot when good ground is expected .
Report liberator of the oppressed March 12, 2026 8:26 PM GMT
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.
Report s.kenbo March 12, 2026 8:28 PM GMT
Agreed. Tell him to do one.

He’s got a cheek telling them the ground conditions he wants.
Report A_T March 12, 2026 8:36 PM GMT
trying to blackmail the cheltenham cotc - the softer the better for willie

watering in early march fck off
Report warhan March 12, 2026 8:52 PM GMT
didn't mind running Ethical Diamond on Firm at Del Mar though
Report slickster March 12, 2026 9:24 PM GMT
Something very sinister going on here. I bet the "owner" wasn't on ante post eh..
Report brandyontherocks March 12, 2026 9:25 PM GMT
Liberator of the Oppressed.
Why is it a welfare issue?
Show me the stats where horses are killed due to running on spring ground.
Report soldieroffortune March 12, 2026 9:25 PM GMT
'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.
Report soldieroffortune March 12, 2026 9:36 PM GMT
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.
Report screaming from beneaththewaves March 12, 2026 9:41 PM GMT
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.
Report screaming from beneaththewaves March 12, 2026 9:41 PM GMT
*pursued the matter through the courts
Report GLASGOWCALLING March 12, 2026 9:45 PM GMT
Put Mullins in a roomfull of owners whose Horses want GD ground. Cheeky phecker.
Report Cider March 12, 2026 9:53 PM GMT
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 Cry The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, either Grin
Report duffy March 12, 2026 9:55 PM GMT
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.
Report Cider March 12, 2026 9:57 PM GMT
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.
Report Somerset Sam March 12, 2026 10:21 PM GMT
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.
Report GLASGOWCALLING March 12, 2026 10:27 PM GMT
... First time during my time here I have seen a thread 100% in agreement, the mans still breaking records and he doesnt know it. Happy
Report Somerset Sam March 12, 2026 10:34 PM GMT
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.
Report Somerset Sam March 12, 2026 10:36 PM GMT
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.
Report 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.
Report duffy March 12, 2026 10:52 PM GMT
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
Report northanlite March 13, 2026 12:24 AM GMT
He who pays the piper....................
Report slickster March 13, 2026 6:29 AM GMT
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.
Report AFTERTHOUGHT March 13, 2026 6:39 AM GMT
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...
Report maleuk01. March 13, 2026 7:26 AM GMT
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. Laugh

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.
Report Theoneandonly March 13, 2026 7:41 AM GMT
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.
Report Delashay March 13, 2026 7:48 AM GMT
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?
Report Jimbo71 March 13, 2026 7:58 AM GMT
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
Report Delashay March 13, 2026 8:04 AM GMT
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! Devil

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.
Report Delashay March 13, 2026 8:08 AM GMT
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! DevilLaugh

FTF needed a confidence booster after Kempton.
Report jimmythewon March 13, 2026 9:40 AM GMT
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.
Report jimmythewon March 13, 2026 9:42 AM GMT
Slight error !!  Courses are NOT watered to suit individual horses or trainers
Report leif March 13, 2026 10:21 AM GMT
The ITV morning show'.

Wicked Willie's name not mentioned with regard to the watering issue.
Report screaming from beneaththewaves March 13, 2026 10:39 AM GMT
Shark Hanlon was making a similar point a couple of years ago: that good ground had virtually disappeared for his summer jumpers in Ireland on account of certain trainers demanding overwatered ground for their 1/5 shots.
Report coys March 13, 2026 11:09 AM GMT
Sour grapes from Mullins, if his fancied ones had won he'd have said nowt
Report layingisthewayforward March 13, 2026 11:17 AM GMT
What is the ground now please following the overnight rain?
Report Angela Rebecchi March 13, 2026 11:24 AM GMT
Looking at the money for Jango and the drift on Haiti it's fair to say there wasn't as much rain and soft in the ground as they were expecting
Report Delashay March 13, 2026 11:30 AM GMT
They’ve shortened and got half a point between the top 3 in the market and are taking on TS’s selection.

It’s said to be the most open Gold Cup for years, should be 9/2 the field at least.
Report JohanntheGoatHurdler March 13, 2026 11:37 AM GMT
King George form or non-King George form...that is the question...
Report impossible123 March 13, 2026 11:41 AM GMT
Music to antepost players, if so. But as always there's a sting in the tail. The reality is very different as far as the trainer is concerned.

Thank  goodness horseracing and punting is only a game for most.
Report Delashay March 13, 2026 11:42 AM GMT
It’s not just this years form, we’ve seen clues in the past and how horses have been run this year.
Report Delashay March 13, 2026 11:47 AM GMT
Angela Rebecchi • March 13, 2026 11:24 AM GMT
Looking at the money for Jango and the drift on Haiti it's fair to say there wasn't as much rain and soft in the ground as they were expecting

47m ago
10:56, 13 March 2026
Spillane's Tower is a non-runner in the Gold Cup due to the ground.


8:33

"The rain came in the nick of time," said Managan. "He probably wouldn't have been running without it but I'm very happy now, delighted.


I don’t believe this excuse for that horse, was fine earlier add that to what the French Jock has said :

Speaking as he prepared to walk the track, Lefebvre said: “I was here yesterday and the crowd’s fervour and passion is impressive. To ride in the Gold Cup is a privilege and I feel very fortunate.

“The Gold Cup is far too important to come here just for fun,” said Lefebvre. “He’s here to run a big race. He loves a test of stamina, and he got the 6,000 metres [three miles six furlongs] of the Prix La Haye Jousselin with no trouble. The rain that has got into the ground won’t bother him at all, so everything is in his favour.”
Report Delashay March 13, 2026 11:49 AM GMT
“He probably wouldn't have been running…”

Something else wrong or a plot, he should have kept his trap shut, he looks a right MuG! Laugh

Goldilocks Managan! Laugh
Report EVILROYSLADE March 13, 2026 12:55 PM GMT
I've always liked Willie Mullins, but he is 100% wrong this time around.
Report layingisthewayforward March 13, 2026 12:58 PM GMT
The rain has come, why have they taken out Spillane's tower, should be perfect for him surely ?
Report 1st time poster March 13, 2026 1:00 PM GMT
luckily for us lucky  and Dixon have as much times as they want to interrogate MANAGAN as to why he ain't running and as she can talk for ire,eng,Wales and the whole FOOKING world I,m sure it will be  box  office viewing, oh look not a word it must be running Laugh
Report Cider March 13, 2026 1:13 PM GMT
She effectively told you/us, dad was overruled.
Report LegiaSkyBlue March 13, 2026 1:19 PM GMT
Surprised Mullins was such a cry baby yesterday. It would have been ridiculous to water the ground to suit one horse. There was forecast rain and the ground was perfectly safe as it was anyway.
Report Delashay March 13, 2026 5:49 PM GMT
Delashay • March 13, 2026 8:04 AM GMT

I doubt that the horse was ever going to run! Devil

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!

Compare how GW ran in the race this year, it echoed FTF non real effort before he bolted up in the Ryan Air after.

GW had a canter and has done the same!
Report Delashay March 13, 2026 5:53 PM GMT
The above is how FTF ran at Leopardstown before his win at Chelts

Delashay • March 13, 2026 8:08 AM GMT
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! DevilLaugh

FTF needed a confidence booster after Kempton.

*(GW was pulling @ Leopardstown) for extra clarity
Report leif March 13, 2026 6:18 PM GMT
Ireland 15 - 13 Grande Bretagne

A tad quicker ground for 2027 please Mr Cotc, and with Wicked Willie possibly staying away as a result, it ought to be a shoe-in for the home contingent.
Report breadnbutter March 13, 2026 8:47 PM GMT
Problem is the Westher, it's not  predictable, he has to water and then stop b4 meet starts, it was not a given the forcast and as I have observed the temp can change a lot these days and one min it's 10c then hour later 4c  these factors make potential for how much  rain quite difficult to predict.

Willie shod have held fire, it sounded like a threat of sorts.

He is better than that.
Report leif March 13, 2026 9:22 PM GMT
Any possibility that JP used Wicke Willie as a sounding board?
Report wondersobright March 13, 2026 9:30 PM GMT
he has to water and then stop b4 meet starts

watered during the meeting this year & in other years too
Report geoff m March 14, 2026 7:53 AM GMT
FTF should have been in gold cup anyway. Would have got his ground. Relying on iknowthewayourthinkin on a bit of homework after a disastrous season on the track was hopeful @ best.
Report strontium March 14, 2026 11:37 AM GMT
Would he have had his groun, given how fast the race was run? (I know what the going was officially.)
Report strontium March 14, 2026 11:37 AM GMT
*ground
Report geoff m March 14, 2026 12:12 PM GMT
Well he certainly wouldnt have wanted softer. The gold cup was about speed  2 Arkle winners 1st & 2nd.
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