3 minute read
Willie Mullins moved to within one of a century of Cheltenham Festival winners when Fact To File made light work of his rivals in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Just forty minutes after Ballyburn wowed the Closutton handler in the opening Gallagher Novices' Hurdle, Mullins watched another potential star emerge as Fact To File readily brushed aside five rivals in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.
Runner-up in last season's Cheltenham Champion Bumper, connections opted to send the JP McManus-owned seven-year-old straight over fences this season. A path that was successfully taken by Florida Pearl, who landed this race in 1998.
Mark Walsh was happy to bide his time on Fact To File, who arrived having been the sole finisher in Grade 1 company over fences at the Dublin Racing Festival last month, as Harry Cobden attempted to force proceedings onboard Paul Nicholls' Stay Away Fay. However, Cobden never looked content on the leading British challenger, who was sporting cheekpieces for the first time, and all the while the eye was once again drawn to another Willie Mullins contender.
JP McManus' unexposed seven-year-old cruised into contention between Sandor Clegane and Monty's Star approaching the second last before pulling clear of the latter over the final flight for a comfortable three- and three-quarter length success.
"That was very impressive, it was a Gold Cup performance potentially, but he's been like that since the day he came into the yard," said Mullins.
"I thought he'd win the Champion Bumper last year, then of course JP came and beat us with A Dream To Share, but that's how good I thought he was.
"The fact that he was a ready-made steeplechaser from the first day he came into the yard is why I skipped hurdling with him and I'm very happy we did that now. I think JP had a nice little wager for the staff earlier in the season on this fellow for this race, so he more or less made the decision.
"He's a beauty of a jumper and he gave Mark a tremendous ride, I'd say it was some thrill riding him round there. He's just a real gentleman of a horse, that's what he is.
"I've seen the potential. He's like a child's pony in the stable, he's got the temperament for it.
"You know the plan (for next season), he could start off in the John Durkan, then run at Christmas, then the Dublin Racing Festival and back here. That's the bones of the plan, but he has to stay right, and JP might have other ideas, so I'll have to have a chat with him about that."
Victory saw Fact To File take his record to three from four over fences and with stamina question marks seemingly suitably answered on his first start over three miles and half a furlong, bookmakers Paddy Power were quick to cut the son of Poliglote to 7/2 (from 7/1) for next year's Cheltenham Gold Cup.
