Nicky Richards eyeing more Irish riches at Dublin Racing Festival

Buoyed by Grade 1 success at Leopardstown over Christmas, Nicky Richards is assembling a strong team for a return to the track for next month's €1.825 million Dublin Racing Festival.

The Cumbrian trainer has already left his mark on Ireland when repeating his giant-killing act with Simply Ned in the Paddy Power-sponsored Grade 1 chase over Christmas, when Footpad joined Min from the previous year in being turned over at short odds by the David and Nicky Robinson-owned veteran.

Simply Ned is being lined up to return to Leopardstown for the recently upgraded Grade 1 Ladbrokes Dublin Chase, in which he finished second last year when Min gained his revenge.

Nicky Richards: plans to leave his Greystoke Castle yard with a strong raiding party to Ireland next monthCredit: Edward Whitaker

"Simply Ned will go back over there in February," said Richards. "He's been a great horse and it was absolutely fantastic to win again over Christmas. I don't know whether the races fall at the right time of year for him, but we're having a lot of fun whatever it is. It's just a pity he's 12 years old now, but he's not done with yet."

While British trainers largely ignored the riches on offer at last year's inaugural Dublin Racing Festival, Richards is considering rerouting Guitar Pete, third in the BetVictor and Caspian Caviar Gold Cups on his last two starts, to the valuable two-day meeting.

"I've not discussed it with his owner yet, but we might scrap the original plan of the Sky Bet Chase and go to Leopardstown," said Richards.

Guitar Pete (far side): Sky Bet Chase plan could be scrapped in preference for a trip to LeopardstownCredit: Grossick Racing 07710461723

"There's a €125,000 handicap [2m5f Advent Insurance Leopardstown Chase] there, which is €25,000 up from last year, and that's some money.

"At some stage we'll try him at three miles, as at Cheltenham they were just doing him for speed mid-race and he was running on like a lion up the hill."

Reivers Lad, who returned from a 20-month absence to win a hot-looking novice chase at Newcastle last month, could join his established stablemates in making the trip for the Irish Arkle.

"The plan is to go to Ayr on January 20, when hopefully there'll be a bit of juice in the ground, and after that he may go for the Irish Arkle," added Richards.

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