Owner Rich Ricci says his “heart went out to Willie Mullins” when the trainer rang him to tell him three-time Cheltenham Festival winner Vautour had died in freak accident on Sunday.

It has been a turbulent week in Irish racing circles and, in the days dominated by the controversial process involved in the reappointment of Horse Racing Ireland CEO Brian Kavanagh, the news that two of the superpowers of National Hunt racing in Ireland have parted ways has kept the sport in the headlines.

All attempts to temper enthusiasm and curb expectation were lost in just two words: “just spectacular.”

By way of an arresting intro I was hoping this morning to bring you exclusive news of Rich Ricci’s opinion of Davy Fitz and Brian Cody. Really. Just for the sake of it. Just by way of something different.

Joseph looks to follow father’s example

All the talk of ‘Ricci Tuesday’ had been replaced by an intense focus on what was expected to be ‘JP Wednesday.’

The three best mares we have seen since Dawn Run, with the exception of the 1994 Champion Hurdle winner, Flakey Dove, have all been trained by Willie Mullins, namely Annie Power, Quevega and Vroum Vroum Mag.

Willie Mullins emulated his father by training a mare to win the Stan James Champion Hurdle as Annie Power blew her rivals away in style at Cheltenham, setting a new course record in the process.

1. Will Min be Merciless?

Willie Mullins believes Douvan has enough experience to justify his billing and claim a second successive Cheltenham Festival success with victory in the Racing Post Arkle Trophy.

At the height of the financial crisis back in 2013, Rich Ricci was described by one newspaper as “the poster child for the excesses of the investment banking industry”.

Annie Power still appears likely to be added to the Stan James Champion Hurdle field at the supplementary stage on Wednesday as owner Rich Ricci agonises over potential scenarios.

Vroum Vroum Mag enhanced her Cheltenham Festival claims with victory in the OLBG.com Mares’ Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday – but for what race in March remains uncertain

Easter Monday 2016. Somewhere in County Meath. The traffic all the way up to Fairyhouse is brutal. It’s not surprising really.

Joint-favourite Waxies Dargle, ridden for Noel Meade by Paul Townend, ploughed through the softening ground to land the €50,000 Ladbrokes Ireland Handicap Hurdle, feature on the opening day of Killarney’s May meeting.

The heiress of the fashion and perfume house Nina Ricci was sentenced to a year in prison and ordered to pay heavy fines and back taxes for having hidden millions of euro in HSBC bank accounts in Switzerland.

Colm Greaves takes a look at the fourth day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Owner Rich Ricci believes Vautour may have been underestimated ahead of today’s JLT Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.

Rich Ricci was no stranger to the winner’s podium in Cheltenham before Douvan and Faugheen earned him two returns to the most sought-after patch of real estate in Prestbury Park yesterday afternoon. 

Rich Ricci is slightly favouring the chances of Pylonthepressure as he prepares to unleash a powerful team of four runners in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival today.

Douvan lived up to the hype to give the Willie Mullins, Ruby Walsh and Rich Ricci triumvirate a third successive victory in the Cheltenham Festival opener, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Willie Mullins is in bullish mood as Douvan bids to get the Cheltenham Festival off to a perfect start for the Irish in today’s Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Annie Power bids to follow in the hallowed hoofprints of record-breaking former stablemate Quevega when she makes a belated return to action in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham today.

Owner Rich Ricci believes Faugheen represents his best chance of winning one of the championship events at the Cheltenham Festival ahead of his bid for glory in today’s Stan James Champion Hurdle.

Rich Ricci rates Annie Power his best chance of a winner at next week’s Cheltenham Festival after confirming the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle would “more than likely” be her target.

Vautour, one of the most visually impressive winners of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in recent years, could make his chasing debut over fences at Navan on Sunday.

Mark Wright has sent a legal letter to ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ bosses to stop Lauren Goodger from talking about him.

Another day like that and the people behind this Prestbury Cup lark will be left with a considerable amount of Cotswold mud on their faces.

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite Vautour could take in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday ahead of his trip to Cheltenham in March.

Leading owner Rich Ricci trusts Willie Mullins to make the right call over which race the much debated Annie Power should contest at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Divers are resuming the search for bodies from a fiery shipwreck of a fishing boat packed with 500 migrants from Eritrea.

Connections of Simenon are “committed” in their pursuit of the Emirates Melbourne Cup – even though the talented stayer is not yet guaranteed a place in the final line-up.

Geordie Shore's Vicky Pattison has been on her first date since breaking up with Ricci Guarnaccio.

Barclays investment banking chief Rich Ricci landed an £18m windfall today after the bank handed out mammoth share awards to top bosses.