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Min too short for Cheltenham opener, says owner Ricci

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Min (Ruby Walsh) Punchestown 10.12.2015

Min: has not done as much as Vautour or Douvan his owner says

  PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)  

 By Lewis Porteous 7:30PM 28 JAN 2016 

IT WAS the final hurdle that downed the hopes of so many punters putting their faith in Willie Mullins on the opening day of last year’s Cheltenham Festival, but Rich Ricci belives this year’s first leg will be harder to negotiate than bookmakers predict.

Annie Power was unable to complete the dream for many bettors that had placed her in accumulators with Mullins’ other opening day runners but it is Min, the favourite for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, that Ricci believes could be vulnerable in a red-hot renewal.

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The five-year-old is strongly fancied to provide Mullins, jockey Ruby Walsh and Ricci a fourth successive win in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, but the owner is cautious about his chances.

Ricci, who will see his wife Susannah’s pink and green silks carried by a number of hotshots at Cheltenham, feels Min is not as strong a favourite as the odds of 13-8 would suggest for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – which he has landed with Champagne Fever, Vautour and Douvan in the last three years.

Rich Ricci

Rich Ricci: set to have plenty of fancied runners at Cheltenham

  PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)  

Rivals are useful

Ricci, who was speaking exclusively to the Racing Post, said: “I think Vautour and Douvan had probably done more at the corresponding stage of their career and Min’s much shorter than they were in the betting. I think it’s the fact we’ve won it three years in a row.

“He has been impressive and it was good to see Gurteen come out and win his maiden the way he did, but he looks to be too short for me.

“I think Altior is very good and I think Yorkhill is very good. It’s a good Supreme this year and much more open than the betting suggests.”

Annie Power

Annie Power falls at the final hurdle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival

  PICTURE: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)  

Strong squad

Like last year, Mullins is frontloading his festival arsenal and has the favourites for the Supreme, Racing Post Arkle, Stan James Champion Hurdle and OLBG Mares’ Hurdle again as well as the market leader in the National Hunt Chase.

Annie Power’s fall at the last obstacle when clear in the Mares’ Hurdle last year saved bookmakers a reported £80 million after punters had placed their faith and cash on her in various accumulators alongside Douvan, Un De Sceaux and Faugheen, who landed the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Racing Post Arkle and Champion Hurdle.

Read more from Rich Ricci on a whole host of superstars, including Faugheen, Douvan and Vautour – only in Friday’s Racing Post. Available on iPad from 8pm

 

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