Rich Ricci: It’s been an incredible ride
For Willie Mullins, Ricci would likely be better known as manna from heaven as the Closutton handler houses the owner’s string of National Hunt superstars.
While Faugheen’s injury has seen him ruled out of a Stan James Champion Hurdle defence, Ricci still has the likely favourite for the two-mile hurdling crown after wonder-mare Annie Power was drafted in as an apparent super-sub.
The owner’s embarrassments of Festival riches also includes the seemingly unbeatable Arkle Contender Douvan and Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hotpot Min.
Cheltenham would be a long way from Ricci’s first racing experiences though, with the American-born former Barclays chief pointing to 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat as his first real racing memory.
However, it did not take Ricci long to fall in love with the quintessentially British and Irish sport of steeplechasing and his blissful rise to the top of the owning ranks began in earnest.
He said: “It’s been an incredible ride and in fairness when I got involved with the sport I wanted to campaign at the highest level.
“The first Cheltenham winner I had in 2009 I thought ‘wow, isn’t this wonderful?’. To have the fortune and luck we’ve had has been unbelievable.
“It doesn’t last forever, though, and you’ve got to enjoy these things. It’s been a dream ride and a dream come true and long may it continue.
“I watched Secretariat on television and the Kentucky Derby was a big thing in our house. I always thought it was a wonderful sport.
“When I came to this country 20 years ago Cheltenham just appealed to me and I fell in love with it.”
Ricci did not seek out Mullins, but fate intervened and the rest, as they say, is history. “It was a friend of mine that introduced me to Willie Mullins and after that we just hit it off as friends,” said Ricci.
“The funny thing is it could have been anyone — Paul Nicholls, Nicky Henderson — I could have been introduced to, it just happened to be Willie. I try get to the yard four times a year. I will always be there in the autumn as it’s a great time of year to see the new ones and how the older ones have summered.
“The thing is because I am so associated with Willie, why run about having horses with other big trainers? It would create so much noise about have I fallen out with Willie. The noise would be more trouble than it’s worth.”
Douvan is widely regarded as the Ricci banker this year and there will be plenty of broken hearts — and empty wallets — if he does not carry his owner’s famous pink silks past the post in first place in the two-mile novice heat.
The six-year-old landed the odds in the Supreme last year and is a very skinny price indeed for the Arkle following three effortless victories over fences, including two at Grade One level, this term.
Ricci, who is famed for wearing his trilby and whatever the weather, believes Douvan to be equine Cary Grant and thinks the sky could really be the limit.
He said: “He is so elegant and is such a wonderful mover. He is a monster and is something special.
“He is so tall if he was a human he would be Cary Grant. He does things effortlessly and he knows he is good looking.
“I just hope he stays sound as he could be anything. He is the most friendly horse and just a pleasure to have.”
The race Ricci would most like to win is the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup, one of the few prizes to have so far eluded Ireland’s all-conquering champion trainer.
The owner is ready to fire a formidable twin assault, with last year’s runner-up Djakadam joined by the brilliant Vautour, arguably the most impressive winner of the entire Festival last March after a jaw-dropping display in the JLT Novices’ Chase.
There are question marks over both, however, with Vautour appearing not to stay when second in the King George, and Djakadam suffering a cut when falling in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January.
“The Gold Cup is the Gold Cup and we want to do our best to try and win it, but I want Willie Mullins to win it first and foremost,” said Ricci.
“If both horses are at the top of their game both will run. Vautour is that little bit classier, while Djakadam is the proven stayer.”
Whatever the outcome of Cheltenham this year, ‘proven stayer’ is exactly what Ricci has been for the jumping game.
