IT IS 19 years since Dermot Weld saddled the only Cheltenham festival winner of his career but there was evidence at the Naas “Cheltenham Trials Day” that Rite Of Passage could be able to bridge that gap.
Yesterday’s finale has thrown up the subsequent Weatherbys Champion Bumper winner twice in the last seven years – Pizarro (2002) and Hairy Molly (2006) – and bookmaker reaction to Rite Of Passage’s six length victory was to install him as low as 10 to 1 to make it three.
Weld himself was playing down the Cheltenham factor with his unbeaten runner but Rite Of Passage did put a Willie Mullins trained 2 to 7 favourite in Quadrillon firmly in his place on ground that was softer than ideal.
“He’s a big, immature horse and that was a rather muddling race but I’m satisfied with him,” said Weld°, who memorably landed the Triumph with Rare Holiday in 1990. “Cheltenham is a possibility but we will have to see where he fits in. I have a couple of nice young horses.”
Joncol’s victory yesterday may not have perfectly fitted the meeting’s Cheltenham billing but otherwise the giant novice’s display was faultless.
The Paul Nolan-trained horse ran out a 10-length winner of the Woodlands Park Nas Na Riogh Chase which was enough for some firms to go as low as 16 to 1 about the RSA Chase at Cheltenham.
However, a trip to the Cotswolds appears to be most unlikely this season, although Nolan is making no attempt to hide his belief that Joncol is a potential star of the future.
“This lad could be anything. He is only going to get better because he is 18hhs and really still only a baby. He is certainly one for the future because even though he’s a big horse he is not short of speed,” the Co Wexford trainer said.
“I will have to discuss it with the owners about going to Cheltenham but I would be inclined to rule out Cheltenham this year as it might be too soon,” Nolan added.
Much more suitable for the Cheltenham theme was the Paddy Power Johnstown Hurdle which saw Go Native earn a festival ticket and the other joint-favourite Zaarito all but ruled out of a trip to Cheltenham.
Zaarito was noticeably weak in the market and beat only one home to leave trainer Colm Murphy, whose other runner, Kimberlite King, finished third, facing a return to the drawing-board.
“The postponed Hennessy meeting at Leopardstown has thrown a spanner in the works. He was spot on for that and boiled over afterwards. We will have to freshen him up and get him back to the real Zaarito,” Murphy said.
“The other horse ran a cracker but Zaarito would be two stone better than him. On the back of that he couldn’t go to the festival and it’s unlikely he will be able to come back to himself in a fortnight,” he added.
In contrast, Go Native is now as low as 14 to 1 for the Supreme after sprinting clear of Roberto Goldback and his victory was a boost for Hurricane Fly’s Christmas form.
“The Supreme is tempting now. He has heaps of speed; he has been working so well that he’s never off the bridle no matter what he’s working with. And I think he will come on for this run,” Noel Meade said.
“He was with Hurricane Fly going to the last the last day and I think if Willie can get Hurricane Fly to Cheltenham then I think he will be very hard to beat.”
There are no fancy Cheltenham entries for Carthalawn but Charles Byrnes’ horse picked up the Grade 2 Newlands Chase when getting the better of Schindlers Hunt and Mansony and could turn out again at Thurles on Thursday.
“He loves his racing and he might as well be earning money as galloping at home,” Byrnes said. “He didn’t get the two and a half miles the last day at Gowran.”
