Willie Mullins claims Cheltenham Festival ground caused 'significant damage' to his horses

Mullins said more of his owners will take their horses to Aintree and Punchestown if the ground continues to be an issue at the Cheltenham Festival

Willie Mullins: 'There was a lot of damage done the last two days in Cheltenham last season because they hadn’t watered properly.' Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Willie Mullins has hit out at ground conditions for this year’s Cheltenham Festival, claiming there was “significant damage” done to some of his horses in the final two days of the biggest meeting on the racing calendar.

The JP McManus-owned Fact To File was a high-profile late withdrawal from the Ryanair Chase on the Thursday of the Festival, a day which began badly for Mullins when even-money favourite Bambino Fever was well beaten in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.