Fact To File's seamless Ryanair domination fires up Gold Cup debate again

Willie Mullins admits the seven-year-old is likely to go for the biggest Cheltenham prize of all next year 

WAY OUT IN FRONT: Fact To File and Mark Walsh win the Ryanair Chase (Grade 1). Pic:Healy Racing Photo

Willie Mullins is ready to re-ignite the Gold Cup conversation after Fact To File, an apparently more mature version, turned up on Wednesday at Cheltenham and blitzed his rivals in the Grade One Ryanair Chase.

Winner of the Brown Advisory at this meeting 12 months ago, his trainer felt he could be a Gold Cup horse this term, but he found stablemate Galopin Des Champs too formidable a foe on his two most recent outings and his sights were lowered just a touch.