The Ricci Stable Tour 2016/17 2015/16 Nation Hunt Season saw 38 winners in the famous Pink and Green silks from a total of 119 runners in the UK and Ireland under the handling of leading Irish trainer Willie Mullins. From October last year when Long Dog took the Grade 3 Novice Hurdle at Limerick, to Vroum Vroum Mag’s success in the Grade 1 Punchestown Champion Hurdle at the end of April this year, a total of 25 Graded winners and 5 at the Cheltenham Festival truly punctuated a tremendous battle for a trainers title in the UK. It was brilliant for the sport as Willie Mullins and Paul Nicholls went toe to toe in the nal days of a remarkable title race and season as a whole. As the Ricci’s acknowledge “We did our best to support Willie in that battle and it is a bit ironic that Vautour at Kempton & Aintree was a key difference in the Trainers battle! Thankfully it is all about to get going again so it’s exciting to see the horses coming back and the earlyseason reports owing in.” To warm us all up ahead of the looming winter months, our Chairman Rich Ricci and his Racing Manager Joe Chambers spun us through the news and hopes for one of the strongest teams in National Hunt racing. From the newest recruits to the old favourites, it’s about to get very interesting!
Chasers Ballycasey ( IRE ) – 9 gr g by Presenting He has been a great horse for us winning eight races in total including a Grade 1 as a Novice Chaser. While he has struggled to recapture that form over the past 2 seasons, he came back to life this Summer as the handicapper relented a little bit. He ran a super race in the Galway Plate, giving weight to all those who nished around him, and then had a lovely condence booster in Killarney. We thought he ran another big race in the Kerry National perhaps just not seeing the trip out, and then he was quite the sight at Gowran winning a Grade 2 with Road to Riches behind him. He got a superb reception from the locals there! He’s up to 162 now which is the highest he has ever been, so will be tricky to place. We will pick and choose our races with him, perhaps at intermediate trips just below the top level, but he jumps so well he always gives himself a chance wherever he turns up.
Champagne Fever ( IRE ) – 9 gr g by Stowaway Believe it or not he’s whiter and whiter each time we pay him a visit. He gave Patrick a great day at Cheltenham in the bumper and then got a “Ruby Special” to win the Supreme, beating Jezki and My Tent or Yours in the process! How did he not win that Arkle in 2014 we will never know? Despite winning a pair of Grade 2’s over fences ever since Un Atout took a swipe at him en route to the Queen Mother in 2015 he has had no luck over fences and missed last season through injury. He’s back and hopefully we can still unlock his brilliance over fences in the right races this season. We will get him back match t before deciding where he goes but having missed last year a number of his penalties will have disappeared, thus opening more options. Interestingly both he and BallyCasey were bought at the same time as ptp horses and are still going!
Djakadam ( FR ) – 7 b g by Saint Des Saints It is hard to believe he is only 7 and already has been 2nd in two Gold Cups, is rated 170 and we think he is made of iron. To come back from his fall in the BetBright Cotswold Chase on Trials Day and run 2nd again on the big day was a huge effort and to his credit he ran a blinder at Punchestown behind Carlingford Lough, having looked knackered at Aintree behind Cue Card just a few weeks before. He has summered well and is doing plenty, we haven’t decided where to start him off yet but he could go back to the John Durkan which is a race he won last year. He has a preference for soft ground which will probably inuence his targets to some degree, hopefully he will settle a bit better now he is older as he has been keen in his races to date.
Douvan ( FR ) – 6 b g by Walk In The Park Wow is the best way to describe Douvan. We don’t know how good he is yet but he has come through all his tests to date with ying colours. He equalled Flyingbolt by winning the Supreme and the Arkle back to back and what we do next is very much up for debate. We are very lucky to have him and I know Willie and Ruby feel the same way! The 2m chase programme seems to have more options in England with the Tingle Creek at Sandown in early December a possibility. We haven’t decided what direction we will go but we would be lying if we said we were not tempted by the King George, he could be some sight around Kempton on a bit of decent ground and it is a race we would dearly love to win. We know he has it to prove in Open company yet but it is very hard to contain our excitement about him.
Vautour ( FR ) – 7 b g by Robin Des Champs He’s 100% at the moment and has been responsible for two of the most dazzling and impressive displays of any of our Cheltenham winners, he seems to come alive at the place! Willie just wasn’t happy with him going into the Festival last March and we changed plans right at the last minute, I know it didn’t look good as I was convinced as anyone that we were heading for the Gold Cup or staying at home. In hindsight he won the Ryanair so it was the right decision but I do want to see him tackle the Gold Cup if there was some decent ground, while at the same time I am well aware there are many who say he will never stay 3m 2f! I would like to take on the challenge with him. When he is on song everything seems to come easily to him but getting him to pitch perfect is a challenge. Aintree was disappointing as he looked like a lion that day and was clearly enjoying himself when he tipped up. I have a gut feeling he doesn’t like going right handed as much, he doesn’t have the same cut at his fences as he does going left handed in my opinion. That being said last year’s King George feels like one that got away so there is every possibility he will go back there, he will need a run beforehand as he is a great big gross horse.
Vroum Vroum Mag ( FR ) – 7 b m by Voix Du Nord When we heard that Jackie Mullins came out of retirement to ride her out we gured she was either very quiet or very good. It appears it is both!! A mare that has been quite difcult to get to the bottom of at home, she is unbeaten for us since we bought her. In fact her sire Voix Du Nord is a big loss to the jumps breeding game – he has had some super stock from very limited crops. She appears to have it all and last season was a wonderful journey with her, from Ascot to Cheltenham and then Punchestown. There are absolutely no plans for her yet, her chase mark of 155 is sorely tempting and we thought she was an out and out stayer in her early days with Willie, but then the pace she showed to win the Irish Champion Hurdle would put a question mark over that. We would like to think she is better than just a super sub for other horses in our ownership, but given she is adaptable from 2mls to 3mls there are plenty of options for her on both sides of the Irish Sea, as well as in France. I appreciate she is under the “Chasers” category here but we will get her ready to rock before deciding where we go.
Hurdlers
Annie Power ( IRE ) - 8 ch m by Shirocco “The Mare”…she gave us the most memorable victory in the Champion Hurdle last season. No horse deserves to win at Cheltenham, but “I really wanted her to win that race”. She got a proper ride from Ruby also, and it was a victory that meant a huge amount to him as well as us. I have often said that one of the great things about sport is that it offers the chance of redemption, and I guess her win at Cheltenham is a prime example of that. She has summered remarkably well, big and very strong and everyone is delighted with her. Can she win the Champion Hurdle again, we think she can, but we have Faugheen too and of course they will need injury free seasons. Annie in particular is fragile, we have tried to get her to the Hattons Grace the last 2 seasons and twice she went wrong. I suspect we will train her and Faugheen along the same lines we intended to last year and God willing if they are both t and well in March we will have a decision to make. Hopefully she will be ready for the Morgiana or the Hattons Grace to start her season off, with Faugheen going to the one of those that she doesn’t.
Faugheen ( IRE ) – 8 b g by Germany Suffered a suspensory ligament injury which whilst small was obviously enough to halt any plans for defending the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and we decided then to let him off for the season. He’s back in and riding out every day so we are all very happy with him right now. If he keeps that way which he should, Willie’s record of returning horses from similar issues is fantastic and it will be all systems go very soon. He looks a heavier animal than this time last year and may carry some more condition through the season, but hopefully he will make the Morgiana or the Hattons Grace as his season opener. I’d imagine it will then be Kempton for the Christmas Hurdle which he has won for the past 2 years and then the Champion Hurdle. Whether we will run him between Christmas and Cheltenham after what happened last year I don’t know, we hadn’t done that before. Like with Annie we will just try and get them t then keep them sound through the season. Horses have a way of making your mind up for you.
Koshari ( FR ) – 4 br g by Walk In The Park Another by Walk In The Park and we were delighted with his victory at Punchestown last Spring. He looked very green and immature there, he was left in front longer than ideal as a horse slipped up in front of him, but he knuckled down well to win going away at the line. He is not a novice this season even though I have seen some people quote him as such and as he is only a 4yo will stay over hurdles this year. A gorgeous looking horse and on the assumption he makes the necessary mental and physical development, one we are very excited about. I suspect he will mix it between handicaps and Grade 2/3 hurdles this season, not too dissimilar to how Willie campaigned Un de Sceaux as a second season novice perhaps.
Cap D’Aubios ( FR ) – 4 bg g by Snow Cap Started in the Grade 1 at Punchestown for us and just blew up there – was ne afterwards and is 100% at home. We wanted to get a run into him and as he was a winner in France there weren’t many options, so he ran in the Grade 1 at Punchestown. He was very weak and a shell of a horse really, and like Koshari above he will be kept to hurdles this year as Willie will bring him along quietly and further his development before going chasing, which is what he and Koshari were bought for.
Karalee ( FR ) – 5 gr m by Martaline She is the one that got away last season. We thought we were being clever by going to Killarney at the start of the season to win a maiden hurdle and then give her a break before a winter campaign. Unfortunately she hurt herself subsequently and we missed her entire novice campaign as a result. We think she is well above average and will make a hell of a chaser in time, assuming she has made a full recovery. Will probably be Christmas or January before she is ready to go and could be one to keep an eye on for a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham in March, before going novice chasing next season.
Limini ( IRE ) – 5 ch m by Peintre Celebre She was brilliant on her rst three starts including a win in the new Dawn Run Mares’ Novices at the Festival. We loved the way she quickened there and came up the hill so strongly. She was then far too free and got no cover at Aintree when 3rd behind Buveur D’Air (who is a proper horse we think) and then with that in mind, we probably over did the holdup tactics at Punchestown when another of Willies, Whiteout, won the Mares race. Sadly she has a small suspensory injury and will sit it out for the rst half of the season. She probably has it to prove after her last 2 runs but we haven’t lost any faith in her, and I could even see her acquitting herself well on the at next Spring.
Benie Des Dieux ( FR ) – 5 b m by Great Pretender We bought her last Spring after she showed a high level of form in France, winning twice at Auteuil and was third in a Grade 3 on nal start last November. An absolute model of a mare she doesn’t t the typical prole of horse we ordinarily buy but Willie was insistent that we get her. She has a super pedigree and will make a valuable brood mare in time, but rst we want to see how far she can go on the track. She is no longer a novice over hurdles but she is over fences, where we start off we do not yet know, but we are as excited about her as we are about any new addition this season.
Max Dynamite ( FR ) – 6 b g by Great Journey He gave us a great trip to Australia last year when he came oh so close to winning the Melbourne Cup. We think the whole trip took a lot out of him and he just wasn’t himself this Spring/Summer, or at least his racecourse efforts would say that. He ran a blinder in the Galway Hurdle last year and hurdling may sweeten him up again. We will continue to mix it between both codes and he won’t run until Willie is happy with him.
Renneti ( FR ) – 7 b g by Irish Wells After he nished 2nd to The Tullow Tank in the Royal Bond a few years back we thought he would be very exciting. He then developed a lot of small niggly physical issues, which then seem to have manifested themselves in mental issues! A horse who has a fair engine we kind of take what we can with him, although he will have to be Listed class on the at at least to deal with his revised at mark. We are convinced there is a big pot in him over hurdles and hopefully we will land one with him some day. I cannot speak highly enough of the job that Willie and all his team at Closutton have done in getting this guy to the track as often as they have done. There is probably a book in it.
Sempre Medici ( FR ) – 6 b g by Medicean Kept going through the Summer wrapping up with a 2nd to Ivan Grozny at Tipperary in Grade 3 in July. Needs strongly run races and can mix it over hurdles and on the at. We gave him an outside squeak at a place in the Champion Hurdle but it wasn’t to be on the day. Ran ok afterwards and this lovely looking gelding will still win nice races. Won’t go on fast ground.
Thomas Hobson - 6 b g by Haling A very expensive purchase, he takes up a lot of attention at home. Won his Grade 2 at Warwick on heavy ground in January and when he gets the jumping together can make use of a big engine. He should be back out soon and is not far off. Looked better up in trip last term and has won on all sorts of ground, is still only a 6yo so can do better this season. Willie seems to be winning the battle with him and he could improve through this coming season.
Novice Chasers American Tom ( FR ) – 5 b g by American Post Easily accounted for JP’s Squouateur at Gowran Park when winning his Novice Hurdle in November and is a half brother to French Grade 1 winner Kiko. We anticipate that this ne looking animal will go novice chasing this season and suspect that he will start off over trips of about 2mls. He may end up a middle distance horse by seasons end, but we were gutted that he had to have the 2nd half of last season off. He has shown no ill effects to that injury, if anything the break seems to have done him the world of good. He is very exciting.
Arbre De Vie ( FR ) – 6 b g by Antarctique We thought last season that he might be an RSA type animal. He had one chase run in January on heavy ground at Thurles where he needed the run more than we thought. After his 4th in the Albert Bartlett we were expecting him to ll out considerably, and while he has he is certainly not in in the Djakadam mould of physicality. He will go novice chasing this season and will be at his best over extended trips. Has it to prove but we think he will more than pay his way.
Bamako Moriviere ( FR ) - 5 b g by Califet Has met with a setback and will not be seen until the Spring time when he will in all likelihood go novice chasing.
Childrens List ( IRE ) – 6 b g by Presenting Came with a big reputation from the ptp eld and hasn’t set the world alight to date. It appears that he is at his best on a sound surface, we quietly fancied him to run well at Cheltenham last year but he disappointed. He has come back great from the summer and might be one to follow on decent ground this season in novice chases as he will be kept on the go through the Spring and Summer all being well.
Dicosimo ( FR ) – 5 b g by Laveron A ne big strong horse, he ended up coming with a warning sign for his jockeys at the end of last season! His sire has been known to get them keen but the way he appears to attack his fences schooling gives us optimism he will improve for the transition to larger obstacles. There is a big engine in there and I am sure Willie will harness it, he is still only a 5yo so those immature tendencies should hopefully go away with time.
Min ( FR ) – 5 b g by Walk In The Park We were hoping this time last year that he was good and he turned out to be just that, although he just couldn’t get it done behind the impressive Altior in the Supreme. In fairness it was the rst time he had to race and battle, and he came back with an injury to his back which meant he missed the rest of the season. He has done well for the break, looks an out and out 2 miler and hopefully he will take to fences well as we would love another crack at Altior this season. Not lost any faith in him at all.
Retour En France ( IRE ) – 6 b m by Robin Des Champs Ran in September at Galway in a valuable Mares event and nished 2nd and followed that up with the same position at Sligo in a beginners’ chase. While over time she will mix it over hurdles and fences, we suspect she will stay novice chasing this year for the valuable mares programme. They were her rst runs in nearly 2yrs and we expect her to improve through the season.
Royal Caviar ( IRE ) – 8 b g by Vinnie Roe “Seconditis” last winter over hurdles to Ball D’Arc and the potentially top class Sutton Place twice. He had enough pace to win a Grade two bumper, but then lost it in the Stewards room. He will go Novice Chasing, probably start off over 2mls but we see no reason why he cannot go out in trip as the season progresses.
Townshend ( GER ) – 5 b g by Lord Of England He disappointed us on his rst 2 starts last season and then became part of the race for the title last year with a successful trip to Perth in April to pick up his novice win, where he showed us some of the engine we thought he had. We are expecting him to come into his own over fences this season, there might be some juice in his hurdle mark of 136 rst, but we are very much hoping that he will make up into a Graded animal.
Novice Hurdlers As with the majority of owners and trainers stocking for the future is as much of a priority as campaigning the current string. As can be seen from the Horses in Training sales this past week it is extremely competitive and challenging to do so. The inux of Australian buyers who tend to buy a similar horse to National Hunt folk have driven prices right up. The weakness of GBP since Brexit particularly has led to more and more overseas buy ers coming to the UK to source horses. We have a number of young horses that may or may not see the track this coming season, we like to give some of the younger ones’ time and preserve their novice status where applicable until they are a year older or stronger – depending on the individual. Below are some names you will recognise, and some who are yet to race for us. With regard to 3yo’s we look to buy future chasers as opposed to readymade juvenile hurdlers, for example Djakadam and the ill-fated Blood Cotil.
Let’s Dance ( FR ) – 4 b f by Poliglote We thought she would make into a Triumph Hurdle type last season and she did just that running fourth at the Festival and was then 2nd to the classy Apples Jade at Punchestown. We kept her going to get her maiden hurdle out of the way at Sligo and is super at the moment. She has a beautiful stamina laden pedigree and we can’t wait to get her out in trip. She is still a novice this season over hurdles and will have mares only races as well as extended trips in open company to aim at.
Livelovelaugh ( IRE ) – 6 b g by Benecial Won his maiden at the end of last season and is as strong as an ox! Ready to go and we all like this strapping Benecial gelding a lot. He will be best over extended trips and it wouldn’t surprise us one bit if he ended up in the Albert Bartlett before going novice chasing in 12mths time. Loves jumping.
Pylonthepressure ( IRE ) – 6 b g by Darsi A particularly frustrating animal. Similar to Livelovelaugh he will be best over extended trips. There is every chance he might go novice chasing at some point this season but we might try and get a maiden hurdle under his belt rst. We are hoping he will improve on last season’s form but he does have it to prove a little bit.
Some Neck ( FR ) – 5 gr g by Yeats This Goffs Land Rover sales purchase didn’t win last yearin 4 bumper runs, which was frustrating. We probably learned a bit about him every time he ran, the Yeats llies seem to be better than the geldings at this stage I think. We might just crack on over hurdles with him and up him in trip. I expected him to have won by now however!
Turcagua ( FR ) – 6 gr g by Turgeon Has had lots of little niggles in his time but is still only a 6yo. He is ne at the minute and will go novice hurdling this season. We believe there is a fair engine there but are just hoping for a clear run with him, if we get one you could see him make up into a nice horse. Ultimately he should be a very good chaser.
New Recruits Bapaume - 3yo by Turtle Bowl Ran twice and stepped up markedly from his debut, particularly in the jumping department, when winning at Fontainbleu in April by 7 lengths. By the same sire as Ivan Grozny, Willie doesn’t tend to be too quick out of the blocks with juvenile hurdlers but hopefully he will be competitive in that category this season.
Bravissimo ( FR ) – 5 gr g by Al Namix A horse who for one reason or another was not ready to run last year and has taken time. He looks stronger now, typical of his sire he is an attractive gelding, so hopefully we can crack on with him. He was 3rd on his only start at Pau nearly 2yrs ago and will go for a maiden hurdle before telling us what direction we should take.
Chacun Pour Soi (FR ) 4 b g by Policy Maker We think the name means every man for himself! This is an absolutely stunning horse who has been bought as a chaser. His form over hurdles held up for the majority of the Spring at a strong level in Auteuil and he will stay over those for another season. He will get further in time and we have had success buying from Emmanuel Clayeux in the past. He should pay his way this coming season but we are already looking forward to going chasing with him in 12mths time where hopefully he will be a leading light.
Riven Light ( IRE ) – 4 b g by Raven’s Pass Purchased off the at at the Arc sale in France after 7 runs, winning twice including once at Vichy over a 1m2f on decent ground. Not your typical jumping pedigree but he is a strong looking animal and might have been unlucky not to win again at Longchamp. He will start off in a 2m maiden hurdle and is one to note – he is apparently showing up well in the early season reports.
Sympa Des Flos ( FR ) – 4 ch g by Tiger Groom Ran 2nd on his only start in France to Favorito Bucks who’s actually with Paul Nicholls now in the prestigious Prix Finot last year. He was green and keen throughout but stayed on well at the nish – we are hopeful that with time those immature signs will disappear, he is apparently full of beans on the gallops in the mornings.
Montalbano – 4 ch g by Monsieur Bond Interesting horse who has run plenty of times on the at. He has had just one run over hurdles, nishing 2nd at Auteuil in March. He has form in soft ground which appeals and has done particularly well over the summer. We were hoping he would be out early and perhaps be a Royal Bond type but is a little slower to come to hand, he reminds us a little of the ill-fated Long Dog. If he is half as good as him that would be great.
Getabird ( IRE ) – 4 b g by Getaway One of the few we have for bumpers this year. Has Long Run and J’y Vole buried in the pedigree so a good long term prospect who ran out on his PTP debut but won nicely the second time, when I think he had the faller at the last covered. He is from the 1st crop of Getaway’s, Willie seems to like them so far, it could be Christmas before we see him.
Camelia de Cotte – 4 b f by Laveron A lly by Laveron who will be aimed at Mares novice hurdles this season. Raced once in a 3yo llies hurdle last December at Pau where she ran an eye catching race. Given time to mature she will stick to mares’ novice hurdles this season and it would be nice to think she could make up into a Dawn Run horse, or indeed the Fairyhouse Grade 1 at Easter over further.
Francin ( FR ) – 3 b/br g by Air Chief Marshall We like this guy. By a sire who has limited jumping stock but he did sire the winner of the Grand Prix de Paris this Summer in Mont Ormel. He won nicely over 1m 4f at Lyon in June this year, his 2nd win there and he was rated in the mid 80’s on the at when we picked him up. He has been brought along slowly and hopefully Willie can eke out some further improvement in him. Provided he takes to hurdling we would be hopeful he can compete at the top level this season in juvenile hurdles.
Crack Tiepy ( FR ) – 4 gr f by Voix Du Nord By the same sire as Vroum Vroum Mag and from the family of Pomme Tiepy, who was our rst mare and gave us so much fun – we didn’t have much choice but to buy her when Willie put her up to us! She has won over both hurdles and fences; the latter gives us a conundrum as if we don’t go chasing with her this season we will lose her novice chase status – but we are prepared to play the long game. As such she will probably stick to hurdles this season given she is only 4. She is full of personality at home and we are very much looking forward to seeing what she can achieve on the track.
Senewalk ( FR ) – 4 b g by Walk In The Park A son of Walk In The Park and just like Douvan and Min we have high hopes for him. He appears to have been made favourite for the Supreme on the back of some remarks I made on the Morning Line last January, and while we don’t want to put anyone off him he hasn’t jumped a hurdle in public yet! As with all the novice hurdlers Willie will run them when they are ready, he looks a 2 miler and if we can get a clear run with him hopefully he will be near the top of the pecking order come March.
Winter Soldier - 3yo by Soldier Hollow By Solider Hollow, the same sire as the smart Artic Fire, who Willie has had so much success with, he has run just the once, nishing 2nd over 1m 4f at Nantes in April. Will go juvenile hurdling and given he looked green and a bit unfurnished we would like to think he will improve with racing. He will also be one for the juvenile hurdling division, we have never had as many 3yo’s it feels like, but like all of them he won’t be bottomed this season.
On the side-lines As is the norm in this game, and alluded to above, you come to expect injuries with any horse you own. We lost a number of horses on the track last year, Long Dog; Pont Alexandre; Marasonnien, to name just three – all Grade 1 winners which is a tough pill to swallow.
Babylone des Motte looked a very exciting mare when she won the Mares Listed bumper at Sandown in 2015 but she has met with a setback. We will only race her again if she shows the right signs, if not she will be retired and go to the Sales. We would like to think that we are very consistent with our mares and have become supporters of the November breeding sale as a result, the likes of Tarla and Adriana de Mottes having been sold there most recently.
Clondaw Court had the world at his feet once upon a time but has been riddled with injuries. We are hoping to go novice chasing with him, he is 9 now, and we will give him one more chance.
Totally Dominant is another who has snippets of decent form and is one that could do well over middle distances on good ground. He might be one we look to America with should he make a return.
Vigoville was bought as a 3yo store, he is now a 7yo and yet to run, I don’t know if we are patient or mad. He is stunning looking and a beautiful mover, we are hoping he will run in a bumper before the end of November.
Fulham Road appears to have been a talking horse for some time but again we can’t get him to the track, we managed to get him to the course one day but no further than the stable yard!! Hopefully we will see him before the year is out, get a bumper out of the way and go novice hurdling.
Aurko is unbeaten over hurdles in France but is yet to race for us. “He is impossible to get t” is the regular mantra we hear, but he could go novice chasing should he get his act together.
Brahma Bull is another store horse by Presenting, bought the same summer as Some Neck. He has a real 3m chase pedigree and should be good to go this season from December onwards. Finally, there is a 3yo called Catwells who we have high hopes for. A future staying chaser, he gave himself a bang and we are likely to give him the season off as a result, he is a winner over hurdles so won’t be a novice next season but we hope he will make into a future Graded chaser.
