Cheltenham winner may tackle new challenges soon

A standout runner from the Cheltenham Festival, Fact To File, may face a new challenge soon. The horse, owned by JP McManus, put on an impressive show by winning the Ryanair Chase, which is run over a distance of 2m41⁄2f. Now, there is a possibility that Fact To File could drop in distance to compete in the William Hill Champion Chase at the upcoming Punchestown Festival. Trainer Willie Mullins has said that without a middle-distance option available at Punchestown, the horse might either run in the Punchestown Gold Cup or try the shorter Champion Chase. Frank Berry, the racing manager for McManus, spoke about the situation. He mentioned that another horse, Inothewayurthinkin, won’t be racing at Liverpool's Aintree. This leaves either Punchestown or a break for Fact To File. He confirmed that the horse will only compete if the ground conditions are good. Berry also pointed out that they have options for Fact To File, including running him over two miles. It's still uncertain what will happen, especially since another horse, Dinoblue, is likely to run in the Champion Chase as well. These comments follow a suggestion from Ruby Walsh, who sees great potential for Fact To File in the 2026 Queen Mother Champion Chase, expressing a preference for the horse to race over shorter distances.