RACING:FAME AND Glory dominates the betting for Wednesday's Ascot Gold Cup after defending champion Rite Of Passage was ruled out of the race by trainer Dermot Weld yesterday.
Sixteen were left in the Gold Cup after yesterday’s forfeit stage, but Rite Of Passage’s name was not included.
“It was a hard call and it came down to the wire, but he had a training setback and we just weren’t happy with him,” Weld said. “We’re obviously very disappointed, especially since he ran so well on his comeback in the Savel Beg. It was a hard decision to make, but I believe it was the right one.”
No plans for Rite Of Passage have been made.
Weld will be represented by two runners at Royal Ascot, with Stunning View lining up in the Royal Hunt Cup and Honey Of A Kitten in the Britannia Handicap. The latter, a Cork winner last year, hasn’t run since finishing second at Naas in April.
The Curragh trainer could kick off this evening’s Limerick meeting with the Cape Cross newcomer Mahaazen in the opening fillies maiden, while Weld’s stable jockey Pat Smullen also looks to have good prospects in one of the six-furlong handicaps with Ted Dolly.
Brown Butterfly attempts a quick follow up in the featured fillies handicap after running away with a seven-furlong race at Naas on Monday. Kevin Prendergast’s runner is up a furlong and has a 5lb penalty, but still looks to hold a leading chance.
No One Tells Me thrived over three miles on her last start over hurdles and any rain that turns the two-mile handicap into even more of a stamina test will be appreciated by Jessica Harrington’s mare, while the regally bred Compelling can get off the mark in the seven-furlong maiden.
