Mullins and Ricci send exciting Benie Des Dieux on British raid

Don't expect Willie Mullins and Rich Ricci to be at Carlisle – if they are, you know it's time to get your betting boots on.

Three Grade 1 races at Fairyhouse offer quite a counter attraction but the owner and trainer are sure to be watching the action from Cumbria between the Royal Bond and the Hatton's Grace.

Benie Des Dieux is the one who will have trainer and owner looking keenly for a television showing Racing UK as she returns to action in the Listed Houghton Mares' Chase (1.20).

She looked a tremendously exciting prospect when bolting up by 30 lengths on her chasing debut at Limerick last December, only to "meet with a setback", in Mullins' words, that caused her to miss the rest of the season.

Benie Des Dieux (Paul Townend) was an impressive winner on her chasing debutCredit: Alain Barr

The six-year-old faces four rivals on her reappearance, including Fontwell chase winner Tacenda who has been sent 333 miles up from Dorset by Anthony Honeyball.

Unbeaten hurdler Lastbutnotleast is thrown in at the deep on end on her chasing debut.

Trainer Donald McCain said: "We've been waiting a little while, it's been a bit stop-start with her and it's only two and a half miles. She wants further but we've got to get her started over fences and two and a half miles round Carlisle would be the ideal start for any three-mile chaser.

"She's a nice mare, we think the world of her, but this is not a novice chase. It's a mares' chase but it's competitive."

The £30,000 race is the most valuable contest on a card that also features five £25,000 finals of the controversial Northern Lights series, to which the BHA has already announced changes for next year.

Finals day

There were a total of 48 horses declared for the finals, including two trained by Sandy Thomson who joined those criticising the qualifying process.

"It's a very good idea but it needs tweaking a bit," he said of the series. "They're talking about one qualifying race but I don't think that's the answer because the southerners will come up once to somewhere and get qualified.

"And Carlisle is not ideal at this time of year because of the ground, it's going to be soft. But as I always say, the second year is always better."

Thomson claimed it had been "a nightmare" to qualify Wide Awake for the mares' hurdle (12.50) but hopes for a good run.

"It's been a bit of a rush to get her there but we're very hopeful the stamina test will suit her and she'll run another good race," he said. "She should get through the ground fine."

But Thomson warned that ground conditions were "a major concern" for Buckled in the staying hurdle.

The going was officially soft, heavy in places on Saturday and clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright said: "It will be a bit tacky as it hasn't rained for a while. But there is significant rain due tonight and that should help freshen it up."

Carlisle card and betting

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