Fact To File won Thursday’s Grade 1 Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham Racecourse in England in such a convincing manner that even winning trainer Willie Mullins briefly wondered if the 8-year-old gelding was in the correct race at this week’s Cheltenham festival for chasers and hurdlers. Fact To File, who paid $4.20 in American pools, won the $485,250 Ryanair Chase at 2 9/16 miles by nine lengths with an ideal trip. The style of the victory suggested he could have been a factor in Friday’s Grade 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup at 3 5/16 miles, the leading race of the week. Mullins has the odds-on favorite for the Gold Cup in Galopin Des Champs, who has won the race the last two years. Fact To File, who was nominated to Friday’s Gold Cup, is a candidate for the 2026 Gold Cup, Mullins said. “The manner of the way in which he won was a bit of a surprise,” Mullins told the press. “I felt coming here he’d win it. I do agree that he might have been the horse to give Galopin Des Champs a battle tomorrow in the Gold Cup if he was in it. “He’ll probably be a Gold Cup horse next year. He’ll be a year older.” :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. Fact To File gave legendary owner J.P. McManus of Ireland his 81st win at the Cheltenham festival, extending his record. McManus has Inothewayurthinkin and Corbetts Cross in the Gold Cup. Mullins said Fact To File was routed to the Ryanair Chase after McManus said he did not want Fact To File “to have a very hard race in the Gold Cup this year.” “Sometimes that can ruin a horse’s career,” said Mullins. The only thing Fact To File ruined on Thursday was the chances of the other eight runners in the Ryanair Chase. Ridden by Mark Walsh, Fact To File stalked the pace before taking the lead three fences from the finish. Heart Wood (8-1) closed from the middle of the field to finish second for trainer Henry de Bromhead of Ireland. Bob Olinger takes Stayer's Hurdle In the following race, de Bromhead’s Bob Olinger extended his undefeated record at Cheltenham with a late rally in the Grade 1 Stayers’ Hurdle at three miles. Ridden by Rachael Blackmore, Bob Olinger ($15.80) caught 6-5 favorite Teahupoo after the last obstacle and won by 1 3/4 lengths over that rival. A 10-year-old gelding, Bob Olinger has won four times at Cheltenham, including Grade 1 races for novice hurdlers in 2021 and novice chasers in 2022. The $420,500 Stayers’ Hurdle was Bob Olinger’s 10th win in 19 starts. Brian Acheson owns Bob Olinger and Teahupoo through his Robcour Stable. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.