Rich Ricci promises 'more to come' after impressive Vauban downs Fil Dor

Saturday: Leopardstown

Just when you thought Gordon Elliott could pick and choose which one of his juveniles would win the JCB Triumph Hurdle, up stepped Willie Mullins and Vauban to remind him that nothing is ever so straightforward at the Cheltenham Festival.

Elliott started the day with the top two in the Triumph Hurdle market, but he is not even responsible for the favourite with a few firms now after Vauban lived up to his huge home reputation under a typically cool Paul Townend.

Paddy Power and Betfair now make Vauban their 5-2 joint-favourite for the Triumph along with his Punchestown conqueror Pied Piper, while Fil Dor was pushed out to 6-1 after his unbeaten record over hurdles came to an abrupt halt.

There were three lengths between Vauban and Fil Dor at the line but it was the way the Rich and Susannah Ricci-owned juvenile travelled through the race that impressed most. He oozes class.

1.35 Leopardstown: full result and replay

Willie Mullins was impressed with what he saw too, saying: "His form, after his run in Punchestown, was looking very good. I thought if Paul got him jumping today he could improve hugely on his Punchestown form, which he did.

"It's tremendous to win another Grade 1. It's a nice way to break your maiden. I don't know if many horses have broken their maiden in a Grade 1 but it's a nice achievement for him."

The champion trainer, who went on to have a four-timer, added: "We thought he was a nice horse when we bought him. On his second-last run we had him bought and then he ran once more on the Flat in France and proved that he was a serious Flat horse. We just had to teach him how to jump and we eventually got around to that."

Rich Ricci and Paul Townend after Vauban landed the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile HurdleCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Rich Ricci, who is investing in young talent to rebuild his once formidable team, added: "It was brilliant. It’s great to be back and the horse is good. There’s more to come I think. He’s our leading four-year-old."

He might not just be Ricci's best four-year-old, he might be the best four-year-old of the lot and Townend admitted that his debut defeat came as a surprise.

The winning jockey said: "He's a horse we like. I was disappointed I got beaten on him the first day but we might have made up for that today."

You certainly did, Paul. Vauban is a name you will need to remember as we could be hearing a lot more about him.

Read more Saturday reports:

Irish Gold Cup: 'I said he'd win or pull up' - Elliott joy as Conflated shocks Gold Cup rivals

Expert jury: 'He was wildly impressive and is one of the most fluent jumpers around'

Irish Arkle: Blue Lord survives stewards' inquiry to continue Willie Mullins hot streak

Leopardstown: 'It was a fantastic performance' - Minella Cocooner slashed for Albert Bartlett

Scilly Isles: 'I gave it a Superman' - Deutsch delight at first Grade 1 with L'Homme Presse

Sandown: Josh Moore enjoys first success of comeback and rewards punter's £75,000 bet

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