Willie Mullins has outlined the nuance of Fact To File‘s Gold Cup participation. His and JP McManus’ chances of success across the meeting are both to be taken into account.
Fact To File was a devastating winner of the Irish Gold Cup last time out. That Dublin Racing Festival victory was his first since the Ryanair Chase of 2025. Despite that unusual winless streak, the performance helped to outline his talent on his best days.
Last year’s Ryanair win was one of those. He scored by nine lengths at Prestbury Park in dominant style and was just as in control at Leopardstown last month.
That performance enhanced the possibility of him being supplemented for this season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup. Fact To File was not initially entered in Cheltenham’s blue riband event when first entries were made in January. Those were completed just 11 days after he had flopped in the King George VI Chase at Kempton.
A U-turn was expected after the Dublin Racing Festival. However, stamina doubts, as well as McManus and Mullins’ chances elsewhere, will all be factored in to the final decision.
“He has more than one horse capable of winning a Gold Cup” – Mullins
McManus won the Gold Cup for the second time in 2025. Inothewayurthinkin’s success came 13 years after Mcmanus’ first, though he was not trained by Mullins.
Gavin Cromwell’s charge will likely be back to defend his title in two weeks’ time. His form this season has been disappointing though, failing to contend in any of his three starts.
Nevertheless, he, along with Spillane’s Tower and I Am Maximus, ensure McManus will have three contenders regardless of Fact To File. With only Jonbon in the Ryanair Chase, Fact To File could easily remain to defend that trophy.
Mullins, in his Sporting Life stable tour, outlined the complexities of the situation.
“If a different owner owned him, that talk would be very strong. If it was my one chance for a Gold Cup (it might be different), but you’ve got to take into account JP’s situation.
“He has more than one horse capable of winning a Gold Cup and he has to factor in that.
“He could look at it and say Fact To File has a favourite’s chance of winning a Ryanair, maybe that’s what we should do, as at least he comes home with something, and let the Gold Cup take care of itself.”
Mullins also suggested that looking at the decision from an owner’s perspective contrasts greatly to the eye of the punter.
“You’ve got to look at the way the owner of the horse looks at the situation. It’s not the way we look at the situation, or the press, or the punters.
“Look at it from other people’s angles and you might come up with a different viewpoint. As of this point in time, there hasn’t been that discussion.”
Confirmations for the Gold Cup occur on Saturday, at which time Fact To File may have been supplemented.