'We're going through a transition' - Rich Ricci in search for more star talent
Rich Ricci might not have the firepower of previous seasons lined up for the Cheltenham Festival, but the leading owner's passion for racing remains strong and he is hoping his reinvestment in youth will start to pay off.
Although Sharjah has kept the Grade 1 victories flowing this term, Ricci does not possess his usual galaxy of stars for jump racing's biggest meeting of the season in March.
Last September festival regular Min joined the likes of other Willie Mullins-trained stars Faugheen, Douvan and Benie Des Dieux in retirement, while at the same time Ricci suffered the blow of seeing Monkfish ruled out for the season.
Monkfish had been vying for Gold Cup favouritism after providing Ricci with his sole winner at last season's festival in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.
The owner and wife Susannah have celebrated a total of 18 Cheltenham winners, including back-to-back Champion Hurdles with Faugheen (2015) and Annie Power (2016), and since 2012 they have endured a blank week only once, in 2019.
This year's team could include Sharjah, Chacun Pour Soi and Royale Pagaille, who recorded back-to-back wins in Saturday's Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock.
"We've had a very difficult year, it's been tough," said Ricci. "I bought a lot of horses when Gigginstown left Willie's yard and they weren't very good. We tried to support Willie and it was good, but last year I was disappointed with some of them.
"We've had a lot of injuries so we've restocked and are going through a transition. All those great horses have gone and we've bought more. I've got lots of bumper horses and hurdlers for next year, so we're hoping there's some nice ones coming through."
Ricci, 58, opted for a change of approach when sending Royale Pagaille to be trained in Britain by Venetia Williams and the decision has been rewarded with the eight-year-old developing into a top-class chaser.
The American banker, who is looking forward to his well-touted Mercurey making his debut at Gowran on Thursday, was pleased to pay his first visit to Haydock to see Royale Pagaille in the flesh for the first time.
"I've not been racing for a while because of the restrictions and it doesn't matter what the weather is doing, you can't beat it," he said. "It's a fantastic game and my passion for it has not died."
Following his brilliant weight-carrying victory in the Peter Marsh, Royale Pagaille was cut to 16-1 (from 25) for the Gold Cup, a race in which he finished sixth last season.
"He's a very good horse," said Ricci. "Last year in the Gold Cup he tore off the front of his foot and after the race he was so lame it took three months for him to recover. He lost two shoes in the race as well and still finished sixth.
"We'll see what happens, but on that rating you've got to have another go. Maybe the track doesn't suit, but there's nothing else for him."
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Published on 23 January 2022inNews
Last updated 13:04, 23 January 2022
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