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Rich Ricci exclusive
Top National Hunt owner Rich Ricci gives us the latest on his stars and nominates a French import to follow in 2017/18.
Rich Ricci is delighted with the well-being of stars Faugheen, Douvan and Min as the top owner looks forward to a new generation of talent in his famous colours during the new jumps season.
Ricci, speaking exclusively to attheraces.com’s Tom Thurgood at Doncaster on Friday following Thomas Hobson’s second in the Doncaster Cup, reported that eight-time Grade 1 winner Faugheen “looks great” as the spectacular 2015 Champion Hurdle winner gears up for a belated comeback, having not raced since landing the Irish Champion Hurdle in January 2016.
“Faugheen paraded at the Irish Champions Weekend and he’s in very good order,” said Ricci. “It’s great to have him back and moving well. I’d say the Morgiana, the Hatton’s Grace is the target for him.
“He’s one I’m really looking forward to getting back. It’s been two years since he ran and he was one of the best horses in training, I think the highest-rated Champion Hurdle winner or co-Champion Hurdler of all time. Even at 90% of what he was he’d be incredibly competitive this year. We’re very hopeful he’ll come back to 100% and we’ll see where we take it from there.”
Douvan lost his unbeaten record in Ricci’s silks in the 14th time of asking in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March, yet the owner believes we may see a different animal this season.
“He’s in great order. For whatever reason, he just didn’t seem to be himself last season, but he seems to be back to himself now.
“The physical problem that was bothering him all year came out in the Cheltenham race. He seems to be much happier this year and moving very well. You want a cocky Douvan with a lot of presence and he seems to have that back this year, so that’s a good sign.”
Min was unbeaten in two starts over fences last year, including the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase, but injury curtailed the six-year-old’s season and a potential clash with Altior in the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival.
“I’m very happy with Min,” said Ricci. “He’s in good order, looks great and seems to have fully recovered. He’s a horse that historically has been difficult to keep condition on, but he’s summered really, really well. He looks a picture now - he looks very strong and big, and I’m delighted with him.
“I’ve no clue where he’ll start off - I’d say one of the two-mile chases in Ireland. Maybe a second-season novice – there’s some nice second-season novices at Ascot. There’s lots of options for him.”
Ricci also shared the latest on Benie Des Dieux, a winner by 30 lengths on her debut for Willie Mullins at Limerick last December but who hasn’t been seen since.
“Benie Des Dieux had a setback – it wasn’t a leg or anything that serious. She was so impressive on debut and I was looking forward to her coming back and running at Cheltenham. Of all my Christmas runners, she was the most impressive.
“She’s healthy and back and working well. She jumps like a buck and there’s a nice mares programme. Obviously, she’ll be in non-novice company but she’s a very good horse. She could be something special.”
Of the younger talent in the Ricci colours, the owner recommended looking out during the winter months out for one particular arrival from France.
“We’ve got 18 novice hurdlers – it’s the biggest novice hurdle team we’ve ever had. Three have run so far and they’ve all won.
“We’ve got some to come out, but I’d say there’s one that I like called CHACUN POUR SOI . He was very impressive in France and he could be a novice chaser this year – he’s one to keep an eye on.”