Royale Pagaille gives Rich Ricci landmark winner in Betfair Chase

Royale Pagaille might not be the best horse to carry the familiar pink and green colours of owner Rich Ricci, but he can lay claim to being the toughest after a successful defence of the Betfair Chase provided the ebullient owner with his 100th Grade One winner.

The Venetia Williams-trained 10-year-old is at his best when the mud is flying on Merseyside, as evidenced by a total of four wins from five previous course appearances.

He was an emphatic winner of the Betfair Chase 12 months ago – and while he fractured his shoulder on his only subsequent appearance when falling in Cheltenham’s Cotswold Chase in January, he returned to his favourite stomping ground as a well fancied 11-4 shot after heavy rain turned conditions in his favour.

It was clear from an early stage Royale Pagaille was in his element as he set his own fractions in front under his regular partner Charlie Deutsch.

Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning, one of last season’s star novices and the 15-8 favourite, loomed up looking a big threat in the straight and looked set to prevail after poking his head in front on the run to the final fence.

Royal Pagaille, though, was having none of it, battling back on the level to wrestle back the lead and he was two lengths in front where it mattered.

Ricci said: “It’s fantastic. It was brilliant. The rain came and Venetia has done a brilliant job with him. Willie has won 98 of the 100, but this meant a lot doing it here as I love Haydock. The people here are great.

“He’s not the most talented and probably wouldn’t win the Gold Cup, but his record here is amazing. I heard Grey Dawning had gone past him and I thought he would finish second, but Charlie said he just asked him again and went past him again. It’s just unbelievable.

“The way he dug in after the last was amazing and you just dream of these moments. It would have been nice if Willie had done it (trained 100th winner) because he’s done 98 of them, but it will keep him on his toes as well!”

There is no doubt Royale Pagaille does not possess the latent talent of Ricci greats such as Annie Power, Faugheen and Vautour, but he clearly holds a special place in his heart.

“A lot of the horses we’ve had have been incredibly talented and while he’s talented too, he’s sort of a journeyman. He tries hard and that’s important to me and I thought it was great,” he added.

“You can make as much money as you want, but you can’t buy thrills, happiness and emotion and that is what this sport brings, good and bad.

“We’ve had some great days and some horrible days and it’s these things you live for, that’s why you’re in the game and I love it.”

Williams, who enjoyed a double on the card and a winner at Ascot following two winners at the latter venue on Friday, was similarly proud of her stable star’s performance, adding: “It’s unbelievable because he was beaten wasn’t he? He’s had to do all the hard work and was being a bit careful at the obstacles, but he’s not beaten until he’s beaten.

“He’s horse we’re obviously very proud of and I’m thrilled Rich has got a very nice horse to carry his colours in this country.

“I bought him as a four-year-old and he’s very much homegrown. I knew in the summer that Rich wasn’t far off his 100th winner and it was mentioned it would be rather amusing if it occurred here!”

Considering future plans, she added: “We’ve got options. He’s been second in a King George and he would have been back here last year for a third Peter Marsh but it was abandoned. I know it’s a handicap, but that’s obviously an interesting option.

“It’s quite clear that ground is key for him to be at his very best and you don’t often get that after February and into March, but you never know – it might be different this year.”

Fierce competitor Skelton admitted to being “gutted” by Grey Dawning’s reverse, but is excited to see what the rest of the season has in store.

“I’m gutted to get beat, but at the end of the day the winner is a hard horse to beat and I take my hat off to him. It looked like we had him beat, but he found a little bit more,” he said.

“I don’t know if we didn’t quite stay the last 50 yards or whether it was the ground. I’m sure he stays, because if he doesn’t stay who does? It is pretty attritional ground.

“He’s improved on last year, that’s for sure. He has to have improved on last year, look what he’s just done.

“It’s disappointing to get beat, but I’m delighted with the horse. The way he jumped on the way round was superb and I think there’s plenty to come. ”

The trainer immediately ruled out a tilt at the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, adding: “Christmas will be too soon by probably six weeks, there’s no way you’ll see him at Christmas.

“I’m not hitting the panic button and saying that’s our ceiling. We’ll go home and get him right and you mightn’t see him for a while now, for obvious reasons.

“I have no idea where we will go and with respect I think it’s inappropriate to ask because the horse has just put that on the line.”