Fact To File has been withdrawn from the Ryanair Chase in major drama on day three of the Cheltenham Festival.
The decision, which has rocked racegoers’ prospects in the highly anticipated race at 4pm GMT, was partly made by owner JP McManus, who confirmed two hours beforehand that the horse would not run unless late rain descended on the racecourse to soften the ground.
The Willie Mullins-trained gelding is a fan-favourite having won this race in 2025 and arrived at the Festival in strong form following a five-length victory in the Irish Gold Cup.
As early as Thursday morning Fact To File was the Evens favourite to regain his crown in the champion race of St. Patrick’s Thursday having been chosen to compete in this one over Friday’s Gold Cup.
“I left it to Willy, but I can overrule him,” McManus told ITV Sport less than two hours before the race, with only light rain in the area. “I have to say I found it, too much for him, I was a bit, part of the course, altogether, not to my liking
“I've walked the track every day, they've done a great job, but I think they could've done more, especially at the top of the track, not everyone would agree with me, if there's significant rain, he'll run, if there's not, he won't.”
While McManus' racing manager Frank Berry said earlier in the day on Thursday: "I’m very worried about the ground, it’s up in the air at the moment.”
The Ryanair chase is a Grade 1 race for five-year olds and upwards and is run over an intermediate trip of two miles, four and a half furlongs. It is a medium distance race which prefers horse that may find the extended length of the Gold Cup too much to handle.
Fact To File excelled in this race a year ago having sat behind the leading trio of horses for the majority of the race before being eased past them by jockey Mark Walsh at the third to last jump. From there he leapt over the final fence clear of the field and cantered to a nine-length victory. It was the type of performance that the nine-year-old is expected to repeat this afternoon, if given the chance.
The going on the course was Good, Good to Soft and despite a consistent downpour of rain this morning it was not sufficiently softened for McManus’ team to believe Fact To File would perform at his best.
McManus has a second horse in the race, Jonbon, trained by Englishman Nicky Henderson and ridden by Nico de Boinville.
Jonbon is one of the most in-form racehorses in the country having raced 27 times and never finished outside the top two. He has won 20 of those races and was expected to be a close rival to Fact To File with his odds sitting at 4/1 this morning.
Mullins, meanwhile, has also trained Impaire Et Passe who will be ridden by Paul Townend. Should Fact To File be withdrawn from the champion race expect a close run affair between him and Jonbon to headline proceedings.
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