Emotional Rich Ricci receives cheers of his own after Faugheen's glorious win

It is a mark of how Rich Ricci's season has gone that prior to Thursday his penultimate Grade 1 win had been secured as far back as November. The hero then was Faugheen, whose subsequent fortunes had largely mirrored those of his owner.

Now Faugheen is back – and so is Ricci.

No horse has been cheered louder this week, and few have been cheered louder this season, than the former Champion Hurdle winner, whose Punchestown renaissance as a three-miler was a joy to behold.