A SUPERSTAR Willie Mullins horse the trainer ‘has loved from day one’ has been slashed in the Cheltenham Festival markets – after losing last time out.
The Closutton boss had an up-and-down Christmas, with some big names disappointing.
Lossiemouth was firmly put in her place by Constitution Hill, while State Man couldn’t get near an awesome Brighterdaysahead.
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There was also the sad death of a popular horse at the stable after he went wrong when leading a race.
Galopin Des Champs flying home in the Savills Chase was one bright spot.
The defending Gold Cup champion was unstoppable over three miles at Leopardstown, reversing John Durkan form with JP McManus’ Fact To File.
The green-and-gold-hooped runner was far from discredited in second but appeared to lack Galopin Des Champs’ gears over three miles.
Fact To File was awesome over 2m4f in the John Durkan at Punchestown.
And punters think that intermediate trip could prove his calling at Cheltenham.
Fact To File is still a general 4-1 second-fav for the Gold Cup but has been cut to 4-1 favourite from 6-1 for the Ryanair with Coral.
That puts him ahead of 5-1 second-fav and recent King George winner Banbridge, while Gaelic Warrior, another Mullins runner who failed to impress over Chrismtas, sits at 6-1.
The firm’s David Stevens said: “Having been put in his place by Galopin Des Champs in the Savills Chase, punters perhaps think Fact To File will avoid another clash with the dual Gold Cup winner, and instead are backing his Festival target to be the shorter Ryanair Chase.”
With William Hill going non-runner money back from midday on New Year’s Day, he could be worth siding with.
But bear in mind Mullins has made no bones about the fact he sees him as a Gold Cup horse.
Indeed, Fact To File, who won last year’s Brown Advisory, skipped hurdles altogether to go chasing.
Mullins has previously said when talking about Fact To File: “I’ve loved him from the first day he came into the stable.
“He always looked to have a good future ahead of him.
“Fact Or File is a horse I’ve loved since the first day he came into the stable. I think he could go the whole way, with a bit of luck.”
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