Fact To File camp 'very worried' by ground conditions as Ryanair Chase favourite drifts to 6-5

Fact To File: last year's Ryanair Chase winner is a doubt for Thursday's raceCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Click here to add us to your Google preferred sources or find out more here

Fact To File is a doubtful runner in the Ryanair Chase (4.00), with the ground at Cheltenham currently good, good to soft in places ahead of racing on Thursday.

Showers are set to hit the track this afternoon, before heavier rain overnight, and JP McManus's racing manager Frank Berry warned he was "very worried" about the surface after walking the track.

The Turners Novices' Hurdle, on the Old course, was run in the quickest time in ten years on Wednesday. That was on good to soft ground before a going change was made after the BetMGM Champion Chase.

Follow the latest Cheltenham Festival news and reaction with our day three live blog

Fact To File has drifted to 6-5 with Unibet and Berry said: "I'm very worried about the ground, I've just walked the track. I'd say we're uncertain at the moment but we'll have to see how it goes."

While showers could ease conditions before the Ryanair at 4pm, there are winds forecast of up to 45mph which could also dry conditions according to Cheltenham's clerk of the course Jon Pullin.

Pullin, speaking on Thursday morning, said: "It's good, good to soft in places on the New course. We've put an average of 4mm on last night. I'm conscious that we've got rain today but we just needed to ensure there was enough moisture for the start of racing. The bulk of the rain comes later this afternoon and through the night so we just wanted some moisture back in it.

Jon Pullin: clerk of the course at CheltenhamCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"I've been out there and it walks as described. The winds are building throughout the day, it's quite breezy at the moment but the forecast indicates we could get up to 40-45mph throughout the afternoon and evening. We'll have to keep an eye on it. That could have an impact but it also depends on when we get the rain.

"If we get the wind without the rain, it could tighten things up a bit as the day progresses. There are some showers forecast from lunchtime onwards."

Pullin warned that the ground could turn soft for Friday's card, which features the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (4.00). Heavier rain is expected from 8pm and into the early hours, before staying dry throughout Friday's action.

"The forecast is saying somewhere between 5-10mm of rain," he added. "If we got towards the top end of that forecast, then it's going to ease things. If we get that as a couple of millimetres this afternoon then we'd probably be soft or very near it."

Read these next:

D-day for Gordon Elliott? Top trainer bids to get off the mark at this year's festival - this is how we rate his chances

2026 Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival: the runners, the odds, the verdict

Don't miss a thing at the Cheltenham Festival - sign up to Racing Post+ now with a whopping 50% off!