Tag Archive for: Rich Ricci

Lossiemouth looks on course for Christmas cracker with Constitution Hill

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Connections of Lossiemouth are “leaning towards” a potential Christmas cracker of a clash with Constitution Hill in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

The five-year-old made an impressive start to her campaign when comfortably defeating Teahupoo in the two-and-a-half-mile Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at the start of the month, a victory that saw her promoted to the head of the Champion Hurdle market.

With trainer Willie Mullins also housing the reigning champion in the shape of State Man, who suffered a surprise defeat on his return, he is eager to split his stars over the Christmas period and mentioned Kempton as a potential target straight after Lossiemouth’s Fairyhouse win.

She is also entered in the December Hurdle at Leopardstown on December 29 – but owner Rich Ricci feels they are more likely to bypass that in favour of a trip to Kempton on Boxing Day or even Cheltenham for the Relkeel Hurdle on January 1.

Lossiemouth won the Mares' Hurdle last year but is Champion-bound this term
Lossiemouth won the Mares’ Hurdle last year but is Champion-bound this term (Adam Davy/PA)

Ricci told Matt Chapman on the At The Races’ Unbridled podcast: “State Man loves Leopardstown, it’s his course, he’s undefeated there and our only defeat was at Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival.

“We might go to Leopardstown for the Dublin Racing Festival, last year we went to the International (at Cheltenham), but she would carry a bigger penalty this year.

“I would say we’re probably leaning towards that (Christmas Hurdle), but we can lean the other way as well. There’s the option of the race on New Year’s Day which Annie Power won at Cheltenham. She will run somewhere at Christmas, but I think at the moment he’s talking about the Christmas Hurdle.

“I think his view is you’re the Champion Hurdle favourite and you’re supposed to run in the Christmas Hurdle, but we’ll see what happens. We’ll see if she’s all right to get there, who knows.

“She will definitely have an entry and we will take it from there.”

Constitution Hill has not run since last year's Christmas Hurdle
Constitution Hill has not run since last year’s Christmas Hurdle (Steven Paston/PA)

Should Constitution Hill line up at Kempton, it will be his first start since a comfortable victory in the Grade One last year with Nicky Henderson’s charge having suffered a series of ailments in the interim.

However, Ricci does not underestimate his challenge, adding: “Constitution Hill is a monster and if he’s back to where he was, he’ll definitely be hard to beat.”

Another Ricci star set to be unleashed over the Christmas period is Gaelic Warrior, winner of the Faugheen Novice Chase and Arkle at the highest level last term.

He is likely to contest the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown on December 27, although Ricci also mentioned Kempton’s Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase on the same day as another alternative.

Gaelic Warrior is on course for a Christmas comeback
Gaelic Warrior is on course for a Christmas comeback (David Davies/Jockey Club)

He said: “I would imagine he would be out first time around Christmas, there’s the two-mile Grade One at Leopardstown, he’s entered in that and you’re probably going to see him there or, depending on what his other runners do, we could travel to Kempton on December 27, it depends who else is coming.

“You will see him at Christmas, he’s doing quite a bit and the plan is to get him out at Christmas.

“The plan is to go to the Champion Chase, I wouldn’t mind if he went to the Ryanair but at the moment all we’re talking about for him is the Champion Chase.

“It will be a hell of race if they all show up, all those intending to get there, and Cheltenham is always the plan until they tell us differently.”

Jonbon currently heads the market for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Festival following his second Tingle Creek victory and Ricci takes a keen interest in Henderson’s runner as he is a full-brother to his former two-mile star Douvan and owned by a friend in JP McManus.

He added: “I’d like to win the race, whether we beat Jonbon or whoever else. I like Jonbon, I love watching him run and because he’s related to Douvan, when we’re not racing against him I root for him and JP is a great pal as well. I’d like to win the race and we’ll see who turns up.”



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Royale Pagaille gives Rich Ricci landmark winner in Betfair Chase

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Royale Pagaille might not be the best horse to carry the familiar pink and green colours of owner Rich Ricci, but he can lay claim to being the toughest after a successful defence of the Betfair Chase provided the ebullient owner with his 100th Grade One winner.

The Venetia Williams-trained 10-year-old is at his best when the mud is flying on Merseyside, as evidenced by a total of four wins from five previous course appearances.

He was an emphatic winner of the Betfair Chase 12 months ago – and while he fractured his shoulder on his only subsequent appearance when falling in Cheltenham’s Cotswold Chase in January, he returned to his favourite stomping ground as a well fancied 11-4 shot after heavy rain turned conditions in his favour.

It was clear from an early stage Royale Pagaille was in his element as he set his own fractions in front under his regular partner Charlie Deutsch.

Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning, one of last season’s star novices and the 15-8 favourite, loomed up looking a big threat in the straight and looked set to prevail after poking his head in front on the run to the final fence.

Royal Pagaille, though, was having none of it, battling back on the level to wrestle back the lead and he was two lengths in front where it mattered.

Owner Rich Ricci after winning the Betfair Chase with Royale Pagaille
Owner Rich Ricci after winning the Betfair Chase with Royale Pagaille (Mike Egerton/The Jockey Club)

Ricci said: “It’s fantastic. It was brilliant. The rain came and Venetia has done a brilliant job with him. Willie has won 98 of the 100, but this meant a lot doing it here as I love Haydock. The people here are great.

“He’s not the most talented and probably wouldn’t win the Gold Cup, but his record here is amazing. I heard Grey Dawning had gone past him and I thought he would finish second, but Charlie said he just asked him again and went past him again. It’s just unbelievable.

“The way he dug in after the last was amazing and you just dream of these moments. It would have been nice if Willie had done it (trained 100th winner) because he’s done 98 of them, but it will keep him on his toes as well!”

There is no doubt Royale Pagaille does not possess the latent talent of Ricci greats such as Annie Power, Faugheen and Vautour, but he clearly holds a special place in his heart.

“A lot of the horses we’ve had have been incredibly talented and while he’s talented too, he’s sort of a journeyman. He tries hard and that’s important to me and I thought it was great,” he added.

“You can make as much money as you want, but you can’t buy thrills, happiness and emotion and that is what this sport brings, good and bad.

“We’ve had some great days and some horrible days and it’s these things you live for, that’s why you’re in the game and I love it.”

Trainer Venetia Williams celebrates at Haydock
Trainer Venetia Williams celebrates at Haydock (Mike Egerton/The Jockey Club)

Williams, who enjoyed a double on the card and a winner at Ascot following two winners at the latter venue on Friday, was similarly proud of her stable star’s performance, adding: “It’s unbelievable because he was beaten wasn’t he? He’s had to do all the hard work and was being a bit careful at the obstacles, but he’s not beaten until he’s beaten.

“He’s horse we’re obviously very proud of and I’m thrilled Rich has got a very nice horse to carry his colours in this country.

“I bought him as a four-year-old and he’s very much homegrown. I knew in the summer that Rich wasn’t far off his 100th winner and it was mentioned it would be rather amusing if it occurred here!”

Considering future plans, she added: “We’ve got options. He’s been second in a King George and he would have been back here last year for a third Peter Marsh but it was abandoned. I know it’s a handicap, but that’s obviously an interesting option.

“It’s quite clear that ground is key for him to be at his very best and you don’t often get that after February and into March, but you never know – it might be different this year.”

Grey Dawning leads Royale Pagaille at Haydock
Grey Dawning leads Royale Pagaille at Haydock (Ian Hodgson/PA)

Fierce competitor Skelton admitted to being “gutted” by Grey Dawning’s reverse, but is excited to see what the rest of the season has in store.

“I’m gutted to get beat, but at the end of the day the winner is a hard horse to beat and I take my hat off to him. It looked like we had him beat, but he found a little bit more,” he said.

“I don’t know if we didn’t quite stay the last 50 yards or whether it was the ground. I’m sure he stays, because if he doesn’t stay who does? It is pretty attritional ground.

“He’s improved on last year, that’s for sure. He has to have improved on last year, look what he’s just done.

“It’s disappointing to get beat, but I’m delighted with the horse. The way he jumped on the way round was superb and I think there’s plenty to come. ”

The trainer immediately ruled out a tilt at the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, adding: “Christmas will be too soon by probably six weeks, there’s no way you’ll see him at Christmas.

“I’m not hitting the panic button and saying that’s our ceiling. We’ll go home and get him right and you mightn’t see him for a while now, for obvious reasons.

“I have no idea where we will go and with respect I think it’s inappropriate to ask because the horse has just put that on the line.”



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Ricci happy to be sticking with ‘Plan A’ for Lossiemouth

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Owner Rich Ricci insists the Mares’ Hurdle remains “Plan A” for Lossiemouth at next week’s Cheltenham Festival, despite the increasing clamour for her to take on the boys in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

Winner of the Triumph Hurdle 12 months ago, the Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old was so impressive on her reappearance on Cheltenham’s Trials day card in late January that many called for her to take on the mighty Constitution Hill in Tuesday’s feature event.

While the Mares’ Hurdle was immediately put forward as her most likely objective, the subsequent defection of the reigning champion led to Mullins saying he supposed “a conversation will be had” regarding the possibility of switching Lossiemouth to the big one.

However, with Mullins now responsible for the red-hot favourite for the Champion Hurdle in the form of last year’s runner-up State Man, it appears almost certain Lossiemouth will be taking the perceived easier option on the same afternoon.

“We all know that five-year-olds have a challenging record in the Champion Hurdle and we learned a lot last year with Vauban – look how he struggled and he’s a fine horse,” Ricci told Sky Sports Racing.

“This year we said to ourselves ‘let’s just take our time with the mare, she’s very young’ – she had a hard season last year and she didn’t run until Trials day this season.

“The plan was always to run in the Mares’ Hurdle, keep one eye on the Champion in case it cut up, but the intention has always been to run in the Mares’ and hopefully if she’s good enough come back and have a real go at the boys next year.

“I know a lot people would be thinking about running her in the Champion Hurdle, but if you look at her best ratings and times not one of them would have won a Champion Hurdle in the last 10 years, so I think we’re doing the right thing.

“We’ll keep an eye on the Champion Hurdle in case it cuts up further, but I think Plan A is to run in the Mares’ Hurdle.”

Lossiemouth during a media day at Willie Mullins’ yard in Closutton
Lossiemouth during a media day at Willie Mullins’ yard in Closutton (Niall Carson/PA)

Lossiemouth will be tackling two and a half miles for the first time on Tuesday, but Ricci is optimistic her stamina will last out over the extra distance.

He added: “She seems to be maturing and settling a bit, the trip is a slight concern as she’s never won over it, but they all think she’ll get it and on breeding she should get it.

“She’s certainly our best chance of the week, so we’re looking forward to seeing her on Tuesday.”

Another Ricci-owned star set to be in action on the opening day of the Festival is Gaelic Warrior, who is poised to drop back in trip for the Arkle Trophy.

Paul Townend falls from Gaelic Warrior at the last in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase during day two of the 2024 Dublin Racing Festival
Paul Townend falls from Gaelic Warrior at the last in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase during day two of the 2024 Dublin Racing Festival (Niall Carson/PA)

Although the six-year-old has displayed a preference for going right-handed, he has finished second at Cheltenham in each of the past two years and Ricci hopes he can put a disappointing run at the Dublin Racing Festival behind him.

“He’s a nut job and a bit of a knucklehead at the racecourse,” he said.

“He jumps a bit right and prefers going right-handed and probably the easiest thing to do with him is to take him to Fairyhouse and Punchestown, but there’s only one Cheltenham Festival so we’ll take our chance again.

“He’s run there twice and run well twice. We’re leaning at the moment towards running him in the Arkle.

“I don’t know what happened the last day, no one can explain it, he just sort of spat the dummy. He seems to be back in better form and I’m hoping you’ll see a much better performance than you did at the Dublin Racing Festival.”

Monkfish looked a genuine Gold Cup contender after winning the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase three years ago, but subsequently spent two years on the sidelines.

He notched his first win since his return in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park in late January and while the Stayers’ Hurdle remains an option, Mullins has suggested he may belatedly get his tilt at Gold Cup glory next Friday.

Monkfish has always been held in the highest regard
Monkfish has always been held in the highest regard (Brian Lawless/PA)

Ricci added: “Willie keeps talking about the Gold Cup, (but) we haven’t engaged much on Monkfish.

“It would appear to me that the natural race would be the Stayers’ Hurdle as he hasn’t jumped a fence in public over the last three years and he was very good the last day in the Galmoy. That being said, if it comes up soft he may go for the Gold Cup, that’s what Willie is intending to do at the moment.

“We won’t talk about it until next week, but the fact that Willie is talking about that, given the level of the competition (in the Gold Cup), means the horse is in great nick and in great form.

“We always thought he was a Gold Cup horse and maybe this is the year he’ll take his chance.”

The Ricci squad also includes Allegorie De Vassy, who will look to go one better than last year in the Mares’ Chase, and popular veteran Sharjah, who has been placed twice in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and this year looks set to contest the Turners Novices’ Chase.

The owner believes Bialystok has a “great each-way chance” in the County Hurdle and that Mercurey may “outrun his odds” in the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle.



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Faugheen sent his army of fans wild at Dublin Racing Festival

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Faugheen was no stranger to dazzling on the big occasion, but as the curtains began to close on his decorated career, he saved one more moment of magic for his adoring home supporters, lighting up the Dublin Racing Festival with a heroic display that sent Leopardstown into a frenzy.

One of the best Champion Hurdle winners of modern times, injury setbacks saw him reinvented first as a staying hurdler and then a novice chaser, as his trainer Willie Mullins eked out Grade One-winning performances with the twilight of his career approaching.

Although a dual Cheltenham Festival scorer, it was Leopardstown that played host to some of his finest displays and he arguably saved his best until last at the Dublin track when his final outing in the Irish capital saw him bring the house down with a brilliant swansong success.

Sent novice chasing at the ripe old age of 11, Faugheen had made the perfect start to fencing and arrived at Leopardstown having dispatched Samcro to taste Grade One glory at Limerick over Christmas.

Eyeing more success at the highest level, Faugheen was sent off the 13-8 joint-favourite for the Flogas Novice Chase and showed all of the qualities and class that had made him such a mainstay of the National Hunt racing scene as he held off stablemate Easy Game for a fairytale victory that would go down in Irish racing folklore.

“Going into Leopardstown, we knew he had been in good form, but for him it was a big day,” said Joe Chambers, racing manager for Faugheen’s owners Rich and Susannah Ricci.

“You were kind of harking back to the Danoli days and days of yesteryear where people were just leaping over tables trying to take advantage of every vantage point. There are a few wonderful pictures of the crowd and they were however many deep around the ring, and every balcony and vantage point was filled.

“Paul (Townend) nearly came off him at the back of the last and it wasn’t without drama, but it was a wonderful day and a pretty emotional day as well. It was a day where I saw Willie get emotional and you don’t often see that.”

Faugheen and Paul Townend celebrate after winning the Flogas Novice Chase
Faugheen and Paul Townend celebrate after winning the Flogas Novice Chase (PA Wire)

It was also a huge occasion for Townend, who in the early stages of his tenure as Closutton number one, finally got his highlight-reel moment aboard Faugheen, having watched on as Ruby Walsh and many of his weighing room colleagues enjoyed great days alongside the popular gelding.

“It was great for Paul as well, because he hadn’t actually ridden Faugheen that many times,” continued Chambers.

“Faugheen was very much a part of Ruby’s career and David (Mullins) had won a Grade One on him and Emmet (Mullins) had won a Grade Three on him and Patrick had won a Grade One as well on him.

“Paul and Danny (Mullins) were somewhat the odd ones out and ultimately, when the music stopped, Danny was the only one left standing.”

The noise reverberating around Leopardstown as Faugheen made a triumphant return to the winner’s enclosure that day could be heard for miles around and although their great warrior will always be associated with the track, Chambers points out Faugheen often received a hero’s reception wherever he went.

He said: “I think you could be anywhere (in the world) with a crowd like that and a horse like that to celebrate and it was just one of those days where everything came together.

“He reincarnated himself as a novice chaser and he had two great days really – you can’t forget the Grade One he won under Patrick (Mullins) at Limerick when he beat Samcro.

“At some tracks in Ireland, the more rural you get, the greater the affinity can be with horses – especially ones who have been there, climbed to the mountain top, fallen back and then come back and managed to achieve again.”

Team Faugheen celebrate winning a big race at Punchestown in 2018
Team Faugheen celebrate winning a big race at Punchestown in 2018 (Brian Lawless/PA)

So, having reached the summit of the sport once again at Leopardstown, there was one final peak left to conquer, with his Flogas triumph signalling one last return to the Cheltenham Festival in a quest to add a third Prestbury Park victory to his CV.

Sent off the 3-1 favourite for the March Novices’ Chase in what would be the final start of his career, Faugheen would go down on his shield to finish third, as Samcro gained Limerick revenge and conjured up his own resurgence story in a race where Closutton stalwart Melon also made the podium.

Chambers added: “I think at Cheltenham in the novice chase, but for a mistake at the second-last, where he just didn’t meet the fence quite right and Samcro winged it, he could have gone out in another blaze of glory as well.

“He got a wonderful reception that day. There might have been a few thoughts privately amongst people (about retiring after Leopardstown), but I don’t recall anything specific being discussed about it.

Rich Ricci (left) Paul Townend and trainer Willie Mullins with Faugheen
Rich Ricci (left) Paul Townend and trainer Willie Mullins with Faugheen (Brian Lawless/PA)

“Part of me thinks it would be the natural thing to do, but then again why would you do that having won a Grade One with Cheltenham round the corner.”

A winner of 17 of his 26 career starts, he was given the title ‘The Machine’ after mercilessly destroying the opposition as he racked up a 10-race unbeaten sequence at the beginning of his time under rules.

He won 12 of his first 13 outings before injury agonisingly kept him sidelined for almost two years when arguably at his pomp.

However, such was his resilience and brilliance, Faugheen was still able to win Grade Ones at two miles, three miles and over fences upon his return, thanks to the sublime handling by Mullins and those at Closutton.

Having captured the hearts of the racing public due to his on-track exploits, he now welcomes them into his own home, residing at the Irish National Stud in retirement alongside fellow Closutton icon Hurricane Fly and the likes of Beef Or Salmon and Hardy Eustace.

Chambers added: “The fact he had been so successful and had been unbeaten and had this ‘machine’ moniker and a fan base, combined with his trials and tribulations and still having the resolution to come back and do it, is a testament to the horse and also a testament to Willie’s training of him.

“He was a wonderful animal and he is enjoying a great retirement at the Irish National Stud.

“He’s there with Hurricane Fly and a couple of others and they take really good care of him – and the people who were associated with him, and also people who were fans of him, are able to go and see him as much as they see fit.

“He was absolutely brilliant on his day and the way he won the Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown beating Arctic Fire and Nichols Canyon – that was ultimately the day he hurt himself – but on the figures and ratings, it was a great performance.

“He gave us great days at Kempton when winning two Christmas Hurdles and also some wonderful days at Cheltenham – even the runs in defeat were great.”



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Lossiemouth team hoping ‘patient approach’ bears plenty of fruit

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Connections of Lossiemouth are content to stick to the process and head to the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival after dazzling in her Trials day return to action.

Last year’s Triumph Hurdle scorer had not been seen since adding to her Grade One haul at the Punchestown Festival, with trainer Willie Mullins electing to tread a different path with his juvenile graduates this season and keep them under wraps until turning five at the turn of the year.

Sent to the Unibet Hurdle for her seasonal bow – on the same day stablemate and regular adversary Gala Marceau headed to Doncaster – she delivered a breathtaking display to dominate her elders and firmly dispatch Love Envoi, who was left trailing the best part of 10 lengths behind in second.

The manner of victory opened up the tantalising prospect of Lossiemouth taking on the likes of Constitution Hill and State Man in the Champion Hurdle.

However, Plan A has always been to head to the Mares’ Hurdle 40 minutes later on the opening day of the Festival, where as a best price of 4-5 favourite, she would have a fine chance of following in the footsteps of Vroum Vroum Mag (2016) and Benie Des Dieux (2018) by winning the Grade One contest for owners Rich and Susannah Ricci.

“The team were pretty happy she was in great form beforehand and she clearly was, but I think the manner of the victory surprised all of us,” said the owners’ racing manager Joe Chambers.

Lossiemouth impressed in the hands of Paul Townend
Lossiemouth impressed in the hands of Paul Townend (David Davies for The Jockey Club/PA)

“That was great to see and hopefully the patient approach we have taken with her will reward us as well as the season goes on.

“That (Mares’ Hurdle) has been the plan all along and continues to be the plan today. Things can change, but I think we will be leaning towards the Mares’ unless a number of things occurred to change our mind. She’s odds-on for one and 8-1 for the other.”

Meanwhile, there was a positive bulletin on Monkfish, who also sports the famous pink and green silks and made a winning return from 272 days off the track in the Galmoy Hurdle.

Rich Ricci has owned some star performers over the years
Rich Ricci has owned some star performers over the years (Nigel French/PA)

A Cheltenham Festival winner in both the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, injury has meant he has not visited Prestbury Park since he was victorious in 2021.

He holds entries for both the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle and the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup this time around and although connections are set to make a late call on which race gets the nod, a return to fencing for a crack at the blue riband is a real possibility for the 10-year-old.

“It was magic to see (him win the Galmoy) and he did well on his return,” continued Chambers.

“Touch wood he has been sound since and we will try to keep him sound between now and March.

“Our inclination has always been to go back over fences, but let’s see how things shape up and the respective races shape up between now and March. A lot could change, but if we can keep him in one piece we look forward to running him wherever that may be.

“It could be (the Gold Cup) and that’s what we would like to do, but we are still six and a half weeks out from that and we will probably leave that decision to the week of Cheltenham.”



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