Patience pays off as Chacun Pour Soi delivers devastating Punchestown success

They have waited with this horse like few people have waited for any horse. Based on what Chacun Pour Soi did on a sunny evening at Punchestown, the wait looks to have been extremely worthwhile.

After buying the strapping young French boy in 2016 Rich and Susannah Ricci had to wait nearly three years before finally getting to see their horse race. He won that day at Naas and he won again here, producing a fabulous display to take what was by far the best two-mile novice chase run this season.

Four of the spring's Grade 1 winners were up against him, including two fellow members of the Willie Mullins yard, but after travelling like a dream Chacun Pour Soi proved far too good for them all.

At the end of the Ryanair Novice Chase he was four and a quarter lengths clear of Defi Du Seuil, with Racing Post Arkle victor Duc Des Genievres a further 16 lengths back in third.

Chacun Pour Soi gallops clear of Defi Du Seuil after the final fence of the Ryanair Novice ChaseCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Had Ruby Walsh not retired on Wednesday he would have been the winning rider. The pleasure went instead to Robbie Power, whose mount is now quoted between 6-1 and 8-1 for the 2020 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, making him shorter in the betting than all horses other than Altior, who is due to be stepped up in trip.

"I told Robbie we think he's a star and that if he's as good as we think he is, God knows what would happen," said Mullins.

"To turn in with an Arkle winner one side of him, a JLT winner on the other side and to still be cantering marks him out as a special horse. He looks spectacular."

Mullins felt Duc Des Genievres ran "a cracker" on ground he did not love, while Defi Du Seuil's trainer Philip Hobbs was clear in his assessment of what had happened.

"We've no excuses," said Hobbs. "He did nod at a fence on the far side but it didn't stop him travelling. It's quite simple – we were beaten by a very good horse."

Chacun Pour Soi's connections celebrate after his Grade 1 victoryCredit: Patrick McCann

Rich Ricci has believed that horse to be very good for an awfully long time.

"Anyone who stopped me today for a tip was given Chacun Pour Soi," said Ricci. "I think I've been tipping him as my horse to follow for the last three seasons but we never saw him race until March. It has been so frustrating but we had to stay patient because we knew he was very good. I always did.

"I normally don't like to watch my horses race but I had a quick look when they were going to the fourth-last fence. When I could see he was cantering, I said to myself: 'Happy days!'"

At long last in the Chacun Pour Soi story, the days are very happy indeed.

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