Who's the man behind the shades? Unravelling the enigma that is Rich Ricci

You know of Rich Ricci, the incredibly wealthy American banker-turned-racehorse owner with the comic book name, perma grin, snazzy suits, big shades, fancy fedoras and a personality even more colourful than his wife Susannah's brightly coloured racing silks.

In her name he has owned some of the best horses of the last decade – Faugheen, Douvan, Vautour, Djakadam, Min and Annie Power. A host of other Cheltenham Festival 'good things' such as Mikael D'Haguenet, Champagne Fever, Vroum Vroum Mag, Limini and Benie Des Dieux have helped make him a favourite with punters.

He has woven himself into jump racing's fabric to such an extent that he appears, unofficially, to be the public face of tweed, and he is often seen with the good and the great – or Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins as the racecard would identify them.