Venetia Williams calls time on career of Royale Pagaille

Venetia Williams has described Royale Pagaille as “kind and gentle but with all the determination you could wish” after announcing the retirement of her dual Betfair Chase hero.

Owned by Rich and Susannah Ricci, he would win seven of his 33 career starts, but would become a stalwart of the staying chasing scene and a regular name on the racecard for many of the season’s top contests.

His last appearance came at his beloved Haydock in February where he was well-held in the Peter Marsh Chase – a race he had won in both 2021 and 2022 – and heads into retirement with his handler keen to pay tribute to a horse whose absence will be felt by those within her Herefordshire operation.

Williams told the Press Association: “He’s been a wonderful horse to have and he’s competed at the top table for a number of years, and we’re going to miss him.

“He has been such a gentleman throughout, a kind, generous horse who would never in a million years pull a face at you, he was lovely. He was kind and gentle but with all the determination you could wish for on a racecourse.

“Jerry Roberts, my travelling head lad, will miss him particularly as that has been his regular ride for many years and before that he would ride Houblon Des Obeaux.”

Although running in the Cheltenham Gold Cup four times, finishing fifth behind A Plus Tard in 2022, Royale Pagaille is best known for his exploits at Haydock, with five of his seven victories coming at the Merseyside track.

The highlights were back-to-back Betfair Chase triumphs in 2023 and 2024 and he went down fighting behind Grey Dawning when seeking a hat-trick as recently as November.

He departs having given his connections some memorable occasions, and Williams added: “He has been fantastic for Rich and Susannah and for us, and he gave us some special memories with his wins at Haydock in those Betfair Chases.

“He ran in four Cheltenham Gold Cups and the first time he ran in it was as a novice because the owners had Monkfish for the Brown Advisory.

“I bought him as a four-year-old at Deauville sales and it was well documented before he had an owner, but he is just one of those wonderful horses who had great longevity and matured into a prolific Grade One performer.”