THE self-proclaimed ‘maddest f***er on the planet’ looks to be working his magic again just in time for the Cheltenham Festival.
Rich Ricci is a well-known name to ardent racing fans.
PA:Press AssociationIf there is one man who knows about owning Cheltenham Festival winners, it’s Ricci… and he has a strong squad heading into this year’s Festival[/caption]
But anytime he appears on ITV Racing, a whole new audience are exposed to the £100million banker with the mullet and snazzy suits.
Put simply, as good as Ricci is in the boardroom, he’s equally as good on the racecourse.
A big spender with seemingly limitless cash resources and the expertise of Willie Mullins at his disposal, Ricci will be one of the owners to watch in March.
And after a relatively quiet couple of years, it looks like his big ones are set to fire at just the right time.
He currently has the ante-post favourites in four races.
Lossiemouth has swept all before her over hurdles.
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Unbeaten in three races, the four-year-old filly is the red-hot 6-4 favourite for the Triumph Hurdle.
Allegorie De Vassy looks set for a blockbuster clash with Impervious – recently purchased by Irish billionaire JP McManus – in the Mares’ Chase.
But bookies make the Ricci runner the one to beat at 15-8.
Chapeau De Soleil is the 8-1 market leader for the Champion Bumper – the race to win on the path to greatness.
And then there is Gaelic Warrior.
One of the ‘talking horses’ of last year, he looked absolutely thrown in off a mark of 129 in the Boodles only to be nutted on the line by Brazil.
The five-year-old is unbeaten since then and among the market leaders for no fewer than nine races.
And though he looks like being capable of mixing it at Grade 1 level, it’s in the handicaps that punters are backing him.
He is 7-1 for the Coral Cup and 8-1 for the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle.
Then again he’s a best-price 6-1 for the Grade 1 Ballymore over 2m4f.
Fancy him against Facile Vega in the Supreme? He’s 16-1.
Basically, Mullins has the wonderful problem of picking where to put Gaelic Warrior, who has won his past two races by a combined 101 lengths.
And it’s not like the quality tapers off after that.
Vauban looks capable of pushing Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle.
Chacun Pour Soi could mix it up in the Ryanair or run in the Champion Chase.
While two-time Festival winner Monkfish has entries in the Gold Cup (40-1) and Stayers’ Hurdle (20-1).
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