Ricci says Mares’ is plan A for Lossiemouth
OWNER Rich Ricci insists the Mares’ Hurdle remains ‘Plan A’ for Lossiemouth at next week’s Cheltenham Festival, despite the increasing clamour for her to take on the boys in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.
Winner of the Triumph Hurdle 12 months ago, the Willie Mullinstrained five-year-old was so impressive on her reappearance on Cheltenham’s Trials day card in late January that many called for her to take on the mighty Constitution Hill in Tuesday’s feature event.
While the Mares’ Hurdle was immediately put forward as her most likely objective, the subsequent defection of the reigning champion led to Mullins saying he supposed ‘a conversation will be had’ regarding the possibility of switching Lossiemouth to the big one.
However, with Mullins now responsible for the red-hot favourite for the Champion Hurdle in the form of last year’s runner-up State Man, it appears almost certain Lossiemouth will be taking the perceived easier option on the same afternoon.
‘We all know that five-year-olds have a challenging record in the Champion Hurdle,’ Ricci told Sky Sports Racing.
‘This year we said to ourselves, “Let’s just take our time with the mare, she’s very young”.
‘The plan was always to run in the Mares’ Hurdle, keep one eye on the Champion in case it cut up, but the intention has always been to run in the Mares’ and hopefully if she’s good enough come back and have a real go at the boys next year.
‘I know a lot people would be thinking about running her in the Champion Hurdle, but if you look at her best ratings and times, not one of them would have won a Champion Hurdle in the last 10 years, so I think we’re doing the right thing.
‘We’ll keep an eye on the Champion Hurdle in case it cuts up further, but I think Plan A is to run in the Mares’ Hurdle.’
Lossiemouth will be tackling two and a half miles for the first time on Tuesday.
Another Ricci-owned star set to be in action on the opening day of the Festival is Gaelic Warrior, who is poised to drop back in trip for the Arkle Trophy. Ricci hopes he can put a disappointing run at the Dublin Racing Festival behind him.
‘He’s a nut job and a bit of a knucklehead at the racecourse,’ he said. ‘He jumps a bit right and prefers going right-handed and probably the easiest thing to do with him is to take him to Fairyhouse and Punchestown, but there’s only one Cheltenham Festival so we’ll take our chance again.
‘He’s run there twice and run well twice. We’re leaning at the moment towards running him in the Arkle.
‘I’m hoping you’ll see a much better performance than you did at the Dublin Racing Festival.’
Monkfish looked a genuine Gold Cup contender after winning the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase three years ago, but subsequently spent two years on the sidelines.
He notched his first win since his return in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park in late January and while the Stayers’ Hurdle remains an option, Mullins has suggested he may belatedly get his tilt at Gold Cup glory next Friday.
The Ricci squad also includes Allegorie De Vassy, who will look to go one better than last year in the Mares’ Chase, and Sharjah, who this year looks set to contest the Turners Novices’ Chase.
The owner believes Bialystok has a ‘great each-way chance’ in the County Hurdle and that Mercurey may ‘outrun his odds’ in the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle.