Cheltenham decision looms for Fact To File but Mullins 'reasonably happy' ahead of Festival

Willie Mullins revealed he is giving serious consideration to fielding a runner against Constitution Hill in his high-profile Flat race at Southwell Friday week

A month out from Cheltenham, Willie Mullins is struggling with back and hip pain but hopes to be right for the Festival. Pic: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

The big injury update from Willie Mullins’ annual pre-Cheltenham media day was not about any of the equine stars in Closutton but the man responsible for training them.

The most successful trainer in the history of the Festival is struggling with back and hip pain, a situation that meant he met the press at The Lord Bagenal Inn in Leighlinbridge, rather than in his yard a short distance away.

His obvious discomfort didn’t stop him from holding court with members of the written press for an hour having already spent a similar length of time with the TV crew.

“Sorry we couldn't be in the yard,” he says. “I just couldn't stand, I'm sore all over but I'm hoping to be right for Cheltenham.” 

Cheltenham Festival

The latest news, views, analysis and opinions on Cheltenham from the Irish Examiner sports desk and our  team of award-winning horse racing writers, tipsters and fans

Go

Happily for Mullins, his team are in better shape than their master trainer.

“I’m happy enough,” he says. “I’ve been further forward in other years. A few of the horses just haven’t sparked yet but I think I’ll have them right by the time we get to Cheltenham. I’m reasonably happy.” 

He’s also reasonably happy to leave a decision on Fact to File's Cheltenham Gold Cup participation to owner JP McManus.

“If you go back to November, he was the Irish banker for the Ryanair but then he comes out and does what he did the other day (winning the Irish Gold Cup)," Mullins says.

“It's not like JP is an ordinary owner, he has so many horses, including Spillane's Tower, who can run in the Gold Cup with a live chance and still keep Fact To File in the Ryanair.

“He's been in the game longer than any of us and has seen the ups and downs, so I'm going to respect whatever he says to me. We haven't really spoken about it and I don't think there's any need at this stage.” 

Fact To File running in the Gold Cup would leave Mullins searching for a big-hitter replacement for the Ryanair Chase. Mullins agreed when it was suggested that Gaelic Warrior, who split Fact To File and Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup, ticked the relevant boxes for that particular assignment. 

“I thought Gaelic Warrior's run the last day at Leopardstown was ideal for the Ryanair myself, the way he ran his race. I wouldn't have any problems going back there.” 

One horse definitely on course for the Festival's feature event is dual hero Galopin Des Champs, who will bid to become just the second horse after Kauto Star to regain his crown.

Cheekpieces worked the oracle for stablemates Majborough and Kaid d’Authie at the Dublin Racing Festival and are now under consideration for Galopin Des Champs.

“It is a possibility, when those horses get older there's no harm in trying cheekpieces or trying something,” Mullins says.

Whether Lossiemouth has a crack at the Champion Hurdle or bids for a Mares’ Hurdle hat-trick remains to be decided but the noises from Mullins on Wednesday suggested the longer, less prestigious race is her more likely destination.

“Lossiemouth was disappointing the other day ( when second to Brighterdaysahead in the Irish Champion Hurdle), but it's a very open Champion Hurdle and I’ll have a good word with (owner) Rich Ricci and see what he thinks about it.

“A lot will depend on how the mare is herself, definitely the form she was in the other day I don't think would cut the mustard in the Champion Hurdle and on that form she might be better going for the Mares’ Hurdle but we will see.” 

Mullins also revealed he is giving serious consideration to fielding a runner against Constitution Hill in his high-profile Flat race at Southwell Friday week.

“I think every trainer will be trying to find something and of course we'll have something for it. I just wonder what the Newmarket yards might have for it, the likes of John Gosden and Roger Varian are all going to pull something out.

“It’s a £40,000 maiden, of course I'm thinking of running something in it. We're giving it some thought. I've got a couple in mind, but I haven't spoken to the owners, it will be good craic.” 

That revelation was one of a number of nuggets to pop up over the course of a fascinating hour.

Another was when Mullins compared Mighty Park, a runaway winner of a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle on his stable debut last month, to the great Faugheen.

“Your gut tells you he has to be a hell of a horse to do what he did - any horse that wins by 38 lengths must have a huge engine, you're into Faugheen territory when you do things like that.

“I was slagging JP saying he was running my Champion Bumper horse in a maiden hurdle. From day one, I always thought he was good enough to win the Champion Bumper, so that's the sort of ability he was showing me at home.” 

But judging by Mullins’ comments about Love Sign d'Aunou, he needn’t worry about the Champion Bumper.

“That win at Naas was a huge performance. I always love horses that can win at Christmas time or this time of year by 10 lengths. He hammered them. He didn’t beat them, he hammered them, and what I loved about it was that he never really showed me that at home. I have so many morning glories where you think they’re fantastic at home and you bring them to the racetrack and they let you down.” 

History shows that Mullins rarely lets his supporters down at Cheltenham but even after saddling 113 Festival winners, he insists he never takes success for granted.

“I’m always fascinated when people say to me ‘how many this year, Willie? Six, seven, eight or 10?’ People expect us to have winners. We go there hoping for one and if we get the first one on the first day then hopefully we might get two or three but we don’t go over expecting winners.”