Leading horse racing owner Rich Ricci has won some of the biggest races in his sport, including the Champion Hurdle, Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Arkle Challenge Trophy. He is now bidding to win the Grand National this year, in what would be his biggest success yet.
The American has two horses entered in this year’s renewal of the world-famous steeplechase, with Royale Pagaille and Burrows Saint both set to feature in his silks. They have been allocated 11st 8lb and 10st 12lb respectively, by the official handicapper.
A wonderful run by ROYALE PAGAILLE yesterday giving lumps of weight away to win the Grade 2 Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock for the second year running. Photo: Racing Post https://t.co/SZBU3d1cgN pic.twitter.com/uHzHFC7yDM
— Venetia Williams (@VenetiaWRacing) January 23, 2022
Royale Pagaille is Ricci’s best chance in this year’s Aintree feature, according to the odds for horse racing, as he is 25/1, with Burrows Saint twice the price at 50/1. The Venetia Williams-trained chaser is one of the highest-rated runners in the field with an official mark of 163.
The Cheltenham racing results show that Royale Pagaille ran in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2022 where he finished fifth of 11 runners in the race won by A Plus Tard. The nine-year-old is set to have another shot at the 3m2½f contest this year before heading to Aintree a month later.
Ricci will be buoyed by how well the UK-based chaser performed at Kempton on Boxing Day in the King George VI Chase. In what is one of the most prestigious races of the year, he came home in second place behind Bravemansgame. That was his first run of the season, and his connections will be confident he can build upon that on his final two assignments of the campaign.
Burrows Saint Has Gone Close Before
The closest Ricci has come to winning the Grand National came in 2021 when Burrows Saint finished fourth of 40 runners. He was in contention in the closing stages of the 4m2½f race, which was eventually won by Minella Times, under the history-making jockey Rachel Blackmore.
9⃣ entered for Saturday's feature event the G3 Bobbyjo Chase including last years winner ACAPELLO BOURGEOIS and 2019 @BoyleSports Irish Grand National winner BURROWS SAINT.
Entries https://t.co/Qzit5CHsOD pic.twitter.com/zlqF2AamCZ
— FairyhouseRacecourse (@Fairyhouse) February 24, 2021
Since that near miss, Burrows Saint has featured five times, but he has yet to score in that period. He chased home dual Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo at Tramore in the Savills New Year’s Day Chase, while he was third in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse.
Burrows Saint made his second appearance in the Grand National in 2022, but on that occasion, he failed to complete the course, ejecting rider Paul Townend from the saddle at the 15th fence. When he returns to the big race in April, it will be his first appearance on the track since he featured in the Grande Steeple-Chase de Paris at Auteuil back in May.
The 10-year-old is trained in Ireland by Willie Mullins, a man who has helped Ricci have a lot of success in his career. The Irish Champion Trainer knows all about Grand National triumph as he won the race in 2005 with Hedgehunter.
Ricci’s two chasers will line up in Liverpool on the 15th of April where the eyes of the world will be on Aintree Racecourse for the huge event in National Hunt racing. With two lively contenders, the American will be excited by his prospects this season.
