He made his racecourse debut in December 1997, where he won a maiden hurdle at Navan and followed this up with two further wins in January and February, including a Grade 2 race.

After finishing second in another Grade 3 race, Rince Ri went to Fairyhouse for the Powers Gold Cup, where he won by 9 lengths from Promalee.

Rince Ri resumed winning ways in his next start, where he beat favourite Florida Pearl by a head in the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown.

[1] His next start saw him lock horns with that rival again, but Florida Pearl recorded victory in the Irish Hennessy Chase, where Rince Ri finished third.

[2] His next start proved to be the final one of that season, where he finished third behind Alexander Banquet in the Irish Hennessy Chase.