Top talent Chacun Pour Soi has Rich Ricci dreaming of further big-race glory

Rich Ricci is bubbling with excitement in anticipation of Chacun Pour Soi becoming his new jumping superstar.

The seven-year-old is unbeaten in two starts since joining Willie Mullins and is behind only Altior in the market for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at 5-1 after impressing at the Punchestown festival with a performance the owner believes was out of the top drawer.

In the Grade 1 Ryanair Novice Chase Chacun Pour Soi easily accounted for Duc Des Genievres and Defi Du Seuil, who had won the Racing Post Arkle and JLT Novices' Chase respectively at Cheltenham seven weeks earlier.

Ricci unusually went without a Grade 1 winner at last season's Cheltenham Festival but hopes his French import can match the heights of his greats.

Chacun Pour Soi and Paul Townend are imperious over the final fence in the beginners' chase at NaasCredit: Alain Barr

The leading owner said: "We are very excited about Chacun and can't wait to get him out this season. He won what we thought was the best novice chase of the season at Punchestown.

"The Arkle winner and JLT winner were in there and we feel he won with something to spare. It was very impressive.

"Whether he will stay over two miles or go over further, we don't know yet. He has plenty of options, as does Min. Hopefully Chacun will stay sound and keep progressing. If he does, there will be lots to look forward to with him this season.’’

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Daysbetween Chacun Por Soir's last race in France and first for Willie Mullins in March

Ricci has an embarrassment of riches in the chasing department as he also owns the returning Douvan, runaway Melling Chase hero Min and Irish Grand National winner Burrows Saint, who looks set to step up to Grade 1 company this season.

Ricci said: "Min is a scorer of great goals but not a reliable goalscorer. He is very good on his day. Don’t forget about Burrows Saint, who won the Irish National and arguably enhanced his form in the Grand Steep' at Auteuil subsequently."

Benie Des Dieux's fall at the last when in command of the Mares' Hurdle denied Ricci a Grade 1 winner at the festival, but she made amends with top-level wins at Punchestown and Auteuil and is a best-priced 12-1 shot for the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase.

It is not just the chasers Ricci is excited about, though, as the top owner also reports to have a hugely promising team of novice hurdlers to go to war with and will surely have his eye on another Supreme Novices’ Hurdle success given he won the race three times in a row from 2013 to 2015.

Benie Des Dieux and Ruby Walsh won the OLBG Mares' Hurdle in 2018 but fell at the last when having the race at her mercy a year laterCredit: Patrick McCann

Ricci added: "We are seriously excited about the season ahead and have 17 novice hurdlers to get started with. Hopefully one or two likely types will emerge from that crop."

There will be some notable absentees from the Ricci teamsheet this season, though, as Cheltenham winner Limini and prolific chaser Camelia De Cotte have both been retired.

He said: "Limini and Camelia De Cotte have both been retired and are in foal to Australia. They will head to the Tattersalls November Breeding Sale, something we have done in the past with the likes of Let's Dance and Tarla."

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