Legendary Rich Ricci and Willie Mullins horse Gaelic Warrior among three big players missing from Champion Chase

LEGENDARY Rich Ricci and Willie Mullins horse Gaelic Warrior is one of three big players scratched from the Champion Chase.

The vibes had not been good about last year’s awesome Arkle winner after two flops at Leopardstown earlier this season.

Last year’s brilliant Arkle winner Gaelic Warrior won’t be lining up in the Champion Chase this yearSportsfile

Ricci sounded sceptical about 10-1 Gaelic Warrior’s chances at the Festival this year saying he had suffered niggles throughout the campaign.

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And now if he is to race at all it will be in the 2m4f Ryanair after Mullins removed him from the Champion Chase at Thursday’s confirmations stage.

He also pulled last year’s 2-9 Champion Chase flop El Fabiolo and Blood Destiny.

That means the Closutton boss will be relying solely on 11-year-old Energumene in the Wednesday feature.

Jonbon’s position at the head of the market solidified at 4-5 with Paddy Power, who think Nicky Henderson’s star chaser can finally claim the race that has eluded him.

King George runner-up Il Est Francais was confirmed and is 4-1 second-fav but it looks more likely that he is Ryanair-bound.

Former Supreme winner Marine Nationale stood his ground for trainer Barry Connell and he is 9-2 to bag a second Festival win.

Energumene, who is owned by Brighton boss Tony Bloom, sits at 7-1 in the betting with two-time Grade 1 winner Solness.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained chaser has been a different horse this season and made a mockery of rivals on his last two runs.

Solness made all in two big-price wins at Leopardstown over Christmas and at the Dublin Racing Festival.

With Il Est Francais likely to go elsewhere the stage is set for him to bounce out and attempt to make all again.

Mullins tends to leave almost all his horses in all available races until the last minute.

So it could be telling that Gaelic Warrior was scratched at this stage.

It could mean he will only go for the Ryanair – or he could miss Cheltenham altogether.

Mullins has Ryanair market leader Fact To File – but there could be a big reshuffling of the cards should Gaelic Warrior go for that race.

Fact To File has been humbled by Galopin Des Champs twice over the 3m trip.

But connections may want one more crack at him in Friday’s Gold Cup before giving up for good.

That could see Gaelic Warrior assume a much stronger position in the Ryanair betting, where he would be likely to come up against Il Est Francais and Protektorat.

Champion Chase latest confirmed runners

Captain Guinness
Energuemene
Found A Fifty
Il Est Francais]
Jonbon
JPR One
Libberty Hunter
Marine Nationale
Master Chewy
Quilixios
Solness