Mullins and McManus share grounds for concern

STARTS were again a topic of frustration on occasions during day three - particularly in the opening Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle where several were badly impacted - but there is no getting away from the quickness of the ground as the biggest focal point of the afternoon.

It has been remarked across the opening two days by a number of riders and others who have walked the course, that it felt as though there was a limited level of softness in the turf, compared to the official description, and that really reared its head with the feature Ryanair Chase.

Willie Mullins and J.P. McManus were clearly upset that sufficient watering hadn’t taken place and withdrew one of the bankers of the entire meeting, Fact To File, in a statement that will surely ensure we’re dealing with a much slower surface next year, should we be back in similar weather territory again.

When there is such an emphasis on welfare at this meeting of all meetings, it seems like a no-brainer to have the ground slower than standard, albeit there weren’t a known array of issues for the horses who have been running here over the four days.

Speaking after Fact To File’s withdrawal, Mullins said: “Looking at Bambino Fever [finished 16th as even-money favourite in the opener] and looking at the ground, I thought ‘this ground is going to be too good for her’ and, sure enough, she wasn’t able to act on it.

“I said to J.P. that these horses are too difficult to get and acquire and you have to mind them. We waited and waited for the rain that was promised, it hasn’t come, so we made the decision not to run.

“In jumps racing, we would like soft in the description of the ground and we think good ground is not good enough for the type of individual we are buying and trying to race. You want to have the top horses at the best Festival, but if the ground is like this, we are not going to bring them.

“We were promised watering and I’m not sure the watering we were promised has been done. I’m a little bit annoyed about that and I thought there would be more watering done. I know the weather forecast hasn’t been kind, but very few people complain about a bit of watering and then too much rain.”

Tramore’s record boosted in bonus victory

THE Grade 3 O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey New Year’s Day Chase at Tramore has twice been the launchpad to Cheltenham Gold Cup success for Al Boum Photo in 2019 and 2020, and it again produced a feature winner at this year’s meeting.

Heart Wood followed up victory at his local track in January with a Ryanair Chase triumph, and the win triggered an extra payout for connections. In December, it was announced that O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey were offering a €50,000 bonus to the connections of the Tramore winner, should they go on and win any race at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.

Hats off to the sponsors for the initiative, and hopefully this result will only encourage a higher calibre of horse to the south-eastern track next January.

Skelton mastery on show again

IF you hadn’t already been aware of their handicapping mastery, the Skeltons have put on a clinic in how to deliver horses to perfection for some of the toughest handicaps of the season.

After teeing up Madara with expert precision in Tuesday’s Plate, they delivered the goods in some style with Supremely West in the Pertemps Final on day three.

There has been increased investment in the young stock coming to the championship-leading stable in recent years, and showing how they can come up with a first Cheltenham Festival winner for long-standing racing enthusiast and owner Jimmy Fyffe is a serious advertisement of how efficiently they can operate. They’re going to be here for a long time to come.

British handicap power

AT the end of day three at Cheltenham, the Prestbury Cup standings were closer than has been the case in recent times - Ireland leading 11-10.

Britain won the opening Grade 1 of the week, but it has been telling that they have been successful in none of the nine Grade 1s since. Of their 10 victories, eight have been in handicaps, and the other coming in Grade 2 company.

Once the dust settles on the week, it will be interesting to review whether the Irish-trained horses performed in line with market expectations in handicaps, or whether the balance of power in those races is really looking like being tilted towards the hosts.

In-running drama of the day

IN the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, shock 40/1 winner White Noisecould have been backed at 119/1 in-running, while 15/2 runner-up Oldschool Outlaw touched even-money.

The Stayers’ Hurdle saw some massive swings. Kabral Du Mathan (SP 4/1) went close to 2/9 after taking command at the final flight, only to finish out of the first three. Runner-up Ballyburn went 8/5 (from an SP of 11/2), 13/2 chance Bob Olinger went 2/1 as he ran on into third, and the 33/1 winner, Home By The Lee, traded as big as 69/1 in-running. When he won his last Grade 1 at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival in 2024, he was 15/8 favourite and similarly hit 84/1 mid-race.

Over the same course and distance, Letos (33/1 in the Pertemps Final) went close to 2/1 in-running on his way to finishing fourth.

Finally, Kim Muir runner-up Road To Home was agonisingly edged out on the run-in - nearly as short as 2/9 after the last (from an SP of 9/1).hrowd watch2026: 55,6482025: 53,366