Willie Mullins threatens Cheltenham boycott after slamming circumstances ‘not ok’
Willie Mullins has threatened not to bring his star horses to the Cheltenham Festival after criticising the ground conditions that led to the withdrawal of his red-hot favourite Fact To File on Thursday
Willie Mullins has threatened to boycott Cheltenham(Image: Alan Crowhurst, Getty Images)
Willie Mullins has threatened not to attend the Cheltenham Festival after criticising the ground conditions following the notable withdrawal of Fact To File from the Ryanair Chase.
The star horse, owned by JP McManus, was the firm favourite in the Ryaniar Chase on the third day of the Festival, having also won the race last year. However, his involvement was uncertain from early morning when Mullins and McManus inspected the track. Before the commencement of the Stayers’ Hurdle, it was announced that the Irish Gold Cup winner would not be running.
Speaking to Racing TV, Mullins said: “We walked the track – JP [McManus] walked the track and I happened to walk it coming across the track from exercising horses and looking at Bambino Fever – and I thought wow, this ground will be too good for her.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
“And sure enough, in the first race she wasn’t able to act on it. Talking to JP, these horses are too difficult to acquire and get as you’ll see at the sales after racing and when you have them, you mind them.
“We waited and waited all day for the rain that was half-promised, it hasn’t come so we made the decision not to run.
“These horses are too hard to find, too hard to get. In jump racing we want to have soft in the description of the ground. Good ground we think is not good enough for the type of individual we are buying and trying to race and have the top horses at the best festival.
“If the ground is going to be like this then we are not going to bring them.
“We were promised watering and I am not sure the watering we were promised was done, so I’m a little bit annoyed at 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 horse we are bringing over here.
“I know it suits some horses but for the majority of the good, big, National Hunt horses, we would like it a little softer anyway.”
