Cheltenham 2026: Willie Mullins Strongly Indicates Fact To File's Likely Target
Willie Mullins, the renowned Irish horse racing trainer, has dropped a significant hint regarding the plans for Fact To File at the upcoming Cheltenham Festival in 2026. The trainer strongly suggested that the nine-year-old will defend his Ryanair Chase title rather than be supplemented for the prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Gold Cup Considerations and Owner's Strategy
Supplementing Fact To File for the 3m2f Cheltenham Gold Cup had been an option under serious consideration since his impressive victory in the Irish Gold Cup at the Dublin Racing Festival. In that race last month at Leopardstown, Fact To File completed a Mullins 1-2-3, defeating Gaelic Warrior and the two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs.
However, connections appear likely to stick to their original plan after taking Fact To File out of the Gold Cup following an initial entry. This decision leaves other contenders owned by JP McManus, including last year's winner Inothewayurthinkin, to tackle next Friday's feature race.
Mullins' Comments on McManus' Gold Cup Contenders
"JP has three entries in the Gold Cup," Mullins told Mirror Racing. "The word this week around Ireland is that [2025 victor] Inothewayurthinkin is working very well. He has Inothewayurthinkin and Spillane's Tower, and I know - I've made no bones about it - that I Am Maximus is well up to Gold Cup standard."
The trainer posed a rhetorical question that revealed his thinking: "So he has two, if not three, Gold Cup horses there already. Do you think he would want four bullets for one race?" This comment strongly indicates that Fact To File will not be among McManus' Gold Cup contenders.
Betting Markets Support Ryanair Chase Target
The betting markets have supported this approach, with Fact To File now odds-on to retain the Ryanair Chase title. He can be backed at 20-1 on betting exchanges for the Gold Cup, suggesting bookmakers see his participation in that race as unlikely.
Meanwhile, Gaelic Warrior appears set to line up for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup the following afternoon and is priced at 14-1 for the Ryanair Chase in the exchange market. The markets also saw Lossiemouth drifting for the Mares' Hurdle, making a tilt at Tuesday's Champion Hurdle appear the favoured option.
Other Mullins Entries and Festival Plans
Mullins' Mighty Park will contest the Skybet Supreme Novices' Hurdle after not featuring among the confirmations for the Turners Novices' Hurdle. This adds to the strategic planning evident in Mullins' approach to the festival.
The trainer's comments and the market movements create a clear picture of the likely targets for Fact To File and other contenders in what promises to be an exciting Cheltenham Festival in 2026.
