Benie Des Dieux set for a meeting with Walk In The Park

Benie Des Dieux, who proved herself one of the outstanding jumping mares of recent times, is set for a first elite covering by Walk In The Park.

Bought for the Rich Ricci and Willie Mullins axis after beginning a hurdling career in France, the daughter of Great Pretender won her next three starts over fences but reverted to hurdles to not only land the showpiece event at Cheltenham in 2018 but also the 2019 French Champion Hurdle.

She was last seen finishing half a length behind Honeysuckle at Cheltenham over a year ago and has been formally retired.

Ricci, who has tended to be an owner rather than a breeder, mentioned the plan in a fond farewell given to the Racing Post and confirmed it in Racing TV's Luck On Sunday show.

"I think Willie was talking of crossing her with Walk In The Park, which would be nice, so that's kind of the plan," he said. "We'll put her in foal anyway, see what we do from there, but hopefully that's successful."

Ricci added that plans for rehoming two of his other recently-retired warriors, Faugheen and Douvan, were being put in place.

The Irish National Stud has been in touch so that the immensely popular Champion Hurdle winner Faugheen can be visited by the public, along with its Living Legends Hurricane Fly, Hardy Eustace, Beef Or Salmon, Kicking King and Rite Of Passage.

Douvan, the multiple Grade 1 winner whose career was beset by setbacks, is still at the Mullins yard but Ricci confirmed: "We'll find him a nice home."

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