Top Irish trainer Willie Mullins has threatened to withdraw his best horses from the Cheltenham Festival, citing concerns over the quality of the racecourse ground. Mullins withdrew odds-on favorite Fact to File from the Ryanair Chase due to conditions he deemed too hard.
"We think good ground is not good enough for the type of individual we are buying and trying to race," Mullins stated. He emphasized that while the festival aims to showcase top horses, "if the ground is like this, we are not going to bring them."
Mullins questioned whether watering of the course, which he said had been promised, had been carried out. He added that the current conditions are not ideal for the majority of elite National Hunt horses, preferring softer ground.
Clerk of the course Jon Pullin confirmed that selective watering had occurred on the majority of the new course to maintain a 'Good, Good to Soft in places' description. He stressed the priority is "producing safe jumping ground for all our participants."
Mullins, who had five winners on the first two days, had no winners on Thursday.