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Matt Chapman has news on his beloved Faugheen and discusses some of the stars of the future

, Matt Chapman has news on his beloved Faugheen and discusses some of the stars of the future

HE could be back. For the time being that is all you need to know.

Firstly, of course, I just hope those of you reading this are fit and well. It’s a desperate time for everyone as Coronavirus does its best to ruin our lives and even take our life.​

As I write, racing close to home survives in Ireland, as we saw yesterday with action on ITV from Thurles. There may well be more from the Curragh and Meydan next weekend.​

Sky Sports Racing will also continue to show as much foreign racing as possible and greyhounds may get a boost and become more of a feature.​

But it’s obviously very hard times for everyone in racing. It’s simply a case of survival.​

Racing chat seems futile in many ways, but of course it is not, because life does go on. And hope is everything.​ And our minds need something to focus on rather than doom and gloom

So how about this for a slice of something to relish. Coming back to my introduction, I think Faugheen – my beloved machine – could be back next season to race on as a 13-year-old. Now that is massive good news.​

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My information is this. Provided Faugheen is fit and well – and regular work-rider John Codd is encouraging along with trainer Willie Mullins – then owner Rich Ricci would be happy to see Faugheen do what Faugheen does best. Run for fun. If this happens thank you Ricci.

Faugheen is such a people’s horse and still has a monster engine. He was very unlucky to be only third behind Samcro in the Marsh at Cheltenham.

Looking back at the Festival there was much for the Ricci camp to get excited about.

Monkfish was brave and talented in the Albert Bartlett despite being too keen and making one bad mistake. He also ran green approaching the last.

You just get the feeling Monkfish is a real Gold Cup horse in the making, and if things go his way could do even better in the main event than Djakadam, who has knocked at the door at Cheltenham for Ricci in the past.

The mega owner also landed the Ryanair with Min, who deserved his huge success, but there might have been much more in just slightly different circumstances.

If the ground on Tuesday had been like it was on Friday, Sharjah would surely have been closer in the Champion Hurdle.

And of course not many of us don’t believe Benie des Dieux wasn’t the best horse in the Mares’, where tactics amongst the Mullins horses were, to be quite frank, pants.

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Chacun Pour Soi had to be pulled out of the Champion Chase at the last minute, and Ricci was missing Saldier and Burrows Saint. There is better to come over fences from Aione and Five O’Clock.

And here is a bit of information that not everyone knows but is worth keeping up your sleeve.

Don’t tell anyone, but Ricci bought a horse called El Barra at the same time as Monkfish. And trust me at that time most people thought El Barra – second in a point at Dromahane to Fury Road – was superior to Monkfish. El Barra could be out in a bumper soon after a setback.

That said, Ricci talking horses haven’t always come up to scratch. Jon Snow, Annamix and Getabird simply weren’t as good as we all thought they might be. Indeed, you could argue Ricci has had much more luck with the less spicy chasers he has owned.

One more reflection on the Cheltenham Festival that involved the Ricci animals was the coming of age of the super talented champion jockey Paul Townend.

Now it was always going to be hard for Townend the year after Ruby Walsh retired. But over four days Townend showed us we can forget the Walsh/Mullins era and look to the future.

Townend started with a shocker on Asterion Forlonge who jumped horribly right, and should have scored on Benie des Dieux. You only have to look at her French form to see how good Benie really is.

But Townend picked himself up, and banged in the bumper on Ferny Hollow. Yes, he was unlucky on Faugheen, but his efforts on Min, the lucky Burning Victory, Monkfish and Al Boum Photo were those of a true champion. Townend has much to look forward to.

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And Coronavirus-willing so do you and I. Enjoy life people.

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