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Ricci Raises Possibility Of Supplementing Beni For Champion Hurdle

3 minute read

Owner Rich Ricci has raised the possibility of supplementing Benie Des Dieux for the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Benie Des Dieux.
Benie Des Dieux. Picture: Pat Healy Photography

The Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old currently holds entries in the Festival Mares' Hurdle and the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle - but Ricci has not ruled out the two-mile championship.

Benie Des Dieux put herself in line for the Festival with a 21-length romp in the Galmoy Hurdle over three miles at Gowran last month, on her first start for 250 days. Ricci told Racing TV: "I haven't spoken to Willie yet. Would we supplement her for the Champion Hurdle? I don't know.

"I don't know if she'll be fast enough, but it's something you'll have to consider.

"I don't want to get into anything about whether she will run there or whatever. We haven't had a discussion about it, but just given how open the Champion Hurdle is, you would have to think about it if she is a two-miler.

"She's very good over a two and a half and three, but it reminds me a bit of Annie Power in the Stayers' and that was a mistake. We should have gone for the Champion Hurdle.

"We'll have to see, but it certainly has to be on the table."
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