DERMOT WELD plans to run Rite Of Passage over two-and-a-half miles at Punchestown next week in an attempt to establish Cheltenham plans for his exciting novice.
With Dunguib dominating betting for the two-mile Supreme – and having finished clear of Rite Of Passage in last year’s champion bumper – Weld is considering an attempt at the Neptune Investment Novice Hurdle, for which Rite Of Passage is favourite.
The grandson of the great mare, Dahlia, also holds a Supreme entry, alongside the two-mile, five-furlong Neptune.
However, the Curragh trainer is not committing to a Cheltenham raid just yet, and won’t decide anything until after testing Rite Of Passage’s stamina at Punchestown.
“I’d like to run at Punchestown and that will tell us a lot more about him. I want to see if he stays,” Weld said yesterday.
“Dunguib is an exceptional young horse and you’ll obviously run your horse where you think you have the best chance of winning,” he added. “Dunguib’s jumping needs to improve, but I’m sure he will. With Rite Of Passage, we have made no decision on which race he will run in – if he does run at Cheltenham.”
Weld will also make a late call on Champion Bumper plans for Elegant Concorde and Hidden Universe, who dominate the betting.
“They are very ground-dependant. Hidden Universe is very adaptable on soft ground, Elegant Universe is a yielding to good horse. Depending on the ground, we will probably decide the day before which horse runs,” he said.
Ladbrokes go just 3 to 1 about Weld winning the Champion Bumper with any of his horses.
Fairyhouse race again today and Apt Approach, who holds an entry in Sunday’s Grade Two Ten Up Chase at Navan, can get the better of Whatuthink and Jagoes Mills in the novice chase after a decent second to Roberto Goldback last time.
John Kiely’s horses are in form, and Shuil Dearn should be hard to beat in the bumper, while Fully Funded can build on his Irish debut behind Rite Of Passage in the opening maiden hurdle.
Inspection:Fairyhouse will hold a 7.30am inspection due to the threat of severe overnight frost. The track passed a similar inspection yesterday.
