Fact To File had "wow factor" in Irish Gold Cup, says Mullins

 Fact To File had the “wow factor” when landing this week’s Irish Gold Cup, according to trainer Willie Mullins.

The multiple champion trainer spoke to Johnny Ward on Racing TV, providers of free bets for Cheltenham, after saddling another promising winner at Punchestown in the shape of Too Bossy For Us.

He suggested that five-year-old could be a Melbourne Cup contender but the immediate focus of the most successful trainer in the history of the Cheltenham Festival is next month’s four-day bonanza in the Cotswolds.

Fact To File is a best-priced 4-1 for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup and 9-4 to successfully retain his Ryanair Chase crown after his electric display at Leopardstown. That came 24 hours after Majborough had put up a flawless audition for the Champion Chase, for which he is now no bigger than 13-8.

“Majborough and Fact To File were fantastic. They are horses coming right at the right time of the season,” Mullins said. “It was a wow factor from the time Mark [Walsh] said ‘go’ to him.

“All the way down the back, and then over the third last, you're wondering turning for home had he enough done? But when Mark gave him a squeeze he just took off again.” The mighty Galopin Des Champs, seeking a fourth win in the race, was a gallant third and Mullins has warned against dismissing him when he attempts to land a third Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

“I was a little afraid that he had such a hard race at Christmas that it might tell on him, and it probably did," he said. 

"But he still ran a good race. If the ground comes up soft at Cheltenham, I think he's still going to be challenging.” Mullins also warned against writing off Lossiemouth and Final Demand after their below-par runs. With regard to the latter, he recalled Vautour being below his best in the build up to Cheltenham before being an explosive winner at the meeting.