The going was officially described as good, good to soft in places with Mullins “annoyed” having thought “there was going to be more watering done [on the track]”.
Fact To File, one of Mullins’ stable-stars, was pulled out of the Ryanair Chase on account of the good ground, with Henry De Bromhead’s charge Heart Wood capitalising to win the day’s big race.
Trainer Willie Mullins on day three of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. Photo credit: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.
Gold Cup Day Preview from Cheltenham
“These horses are too hard to find, too hard to get,” Mullins told Racing TV.
“It’s jump racing, we find we would like to have soft in the ground, in the description of the ground. Good ground…we think it’s 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.”
Mullins, who trained five winners across the festival’s opening two days but didn’t add to his tally on day three, had concerns about Bambino Fever handling the ground in the opening race of the day, the Ryanair Mares’ Novice’s hurdle.
The even money shot trailed home a disappointing 16th and the Mullins-Townend double-act were also left disappointed in the stayers’ hurdle when Ballyburn finished second behind the JJ Slevin ridden Home By The Lee.
“I happened to walk it (the track), coming across it from exercising horses [this morning] and looking at Bambino Fever and looking at the ground, I thought, wow, this ground is going to be too good for her.”
“Sure enough in the first race, she [Bambino Fever] wasn’t able to act on it.”
“We were promised watering and I’m not sure the watering we were promised has been done. So I’m a little bit annoyed about that. I thought there was going to be more watering done.
“I know it suits some horses, but for the majority of the good, big national hunt horses, we would like it a bit softer anyhow,” added Mullins.
JP McManus, the owner of Fact To File, echoed Mullins’ sentiments saying he “felt the course needed more water.”
“I think too much of him [Fact to File]. I was very happy when Willie agreed to take him out. We were worried all week about it (the ground). I think going forward, they’ll have to pay more attention to parts of the track. For me, I think they could have done more there.”
Clerk of the course Jon Pullin had told the BBC that most of the ground was watered the day before.
“After racing concluded on Wednesday, selective watering took place on the majority of the new course to maintain the going description of Good, Good to Soft in places,” he said.
“Our focus is on producing safe jumping ground for all our participants and that has been provided today.”