Fact To File ruled out of Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham Festival

Fact To File has been withdrawn from the Ryanair Chase on day three of the Cheltenham Festival.

Owner JP McManus revealed on Thursday afternoon that the horse would not run unless the racecourse had more rain to soften the ground.

The Willie Mullins-trained horse won the same race last year and was the evens favourite to retain his crown this week.

‘I left it to Willy but I can overrule him,’ McManus told ITV Sport less than two hours before the race.

‘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.’

After the withdrawal of Fact to File was confirmed, Mullins said: ‘We waited all day for rain and it hasn’t come.

‘These horses are too hard to find and too hard to get.

‘The ground is not good enough. If the ground is going to be like this we’re not going to bring them.’

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