Rich Ricci relishes ‘real privilege’ of hunting for National treasure

Leading owner Rich Ricci vividly remembers his horse The Midnight Club’s Randox Grand National run 14 years ago, though not actually for the race itself.

The then 10-year-old was sent off the 15-2 favourite for the Aintree spectacular in 2011, having won the Bobbyjo Chase and representing the powerhouse combination of trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh.

While he ran a perfectly respectable race to finish sixth in the Ricci silks, the owner’s overriding memory is of events at the time which resulted in him famously naming a horse Fatcatinthehat in response to some unfavourable coverage of the former Barclays boss following the UK banking crisis.

Ricci explained: “I had the favourite The Midnight Club and it was the time of bankers being not necessarily everybody’s favourite people.

“I went to Aintree on my own and my bank insisted I had security, because during the banking crisis, having a name like Rich Ricci, I was getting quite a bit of attention.

“I got to the racecourse very early, I opened the paper and there was a headline that said ‘Who’s the fat cat in the hat?’ with a picture of me and a whole bunch of made-up things about me! That was my first memory of the Grand National, reading that at Aintree.

“But it was a great occasion, he finished sixth, and I’ve been in years even when I don’t have runners. It’s great fun, nobody does it quite like Liverpool. It has a unique way of conducting and celebrating the day. It’s great to be part of it.”

Ricci has long been based in Britain, but added: “I’m originally from America and we always watched the Grand National on Wide World of Sports. It’s one of those iconic races you’d like to win – the Ascot Gold Cup, the Melbourne Cup, the Grand National is one of those sort of races.

“It’s such a special day, the whole country gets involved and it’s a real privilege to be part of it.”

This year, Ricci has two entries, a dual Betfair Chase winner in Venetia Williams’ Royale Pagaille (11st 9lb) and the Mullins-trained Horantzau d’Airy (10st 6lb), who has finished down the field in his last three starts.

“Royale Pagaille would be my best chance. I Am Maximus will definitely stay in the race, so hopefully the weights won’t go up,” said Ricci.

“He’s not the easiest fellow to train; a bit like the owner, he’s a bit clumsy and he always has a niggle and he seems to hurt himself in every race.

“Venetia has nursed an awful lot of winning form out of him and prize-money. I’m just hoping if he runs on Saturday at Haydock in the Grand National Trial, he will carry on and go to Aintree with no blemishes.

“He’s been a great horse to own and she’s done a magnificent job.

“Horantzau d’Airy likes much better ground. He’s got some good form and he has his chance. He’ll appreciate the trip and if the ground came up good, he’d be in the mix.”