RACING:DERMOT WELD has all but ruled out an appearance by his Ascot Gold Cup hero Rite Of Passage over hurdles this season and instead he will concentrate on a flat campaign to retain the stayers' crown next June.
Placed at the last two Cheltenham Festivals, Rite Of Passage has been quoted in some ante-post lists for the Champion Hurdle at 20 to 1 despite uncertainty about whether he would go back jumping this winter.
The son of Giant’s Causeway hasn’t been seen since that memorable defeat of Age Of Aquarius at Ascot last summer and in the autumn was ruled out of a possible trip down under for the Melbourne Cup.
However, a meeting between Weld and owner Dr Ronan Lambe this week looks to have concluded that the Group One winner’s immediate future lies on the Flat.
“The horse is in great form and I couldn’t be happier with him but after discussing it with Dr Lambe I would say it is unlikely he will go jumping this season. Instead we will concentrate on hopefully winning the Ascot Gold Cup for a second time,” Weld said yesterday.
Rite Of Passage won both his hurdle starts in Ireland last season before finishing third to Peddlers Cross in the Neptune Investments Hurdle at the Cheltenham. In 2009 he was also placed in the Festival Bumper.
“He has run excellent races at Cheltenham both years. He ran into a top bumper horse in Duguib and also a very good horse in Peddlers Cross,” Weld added. “But Cheltenham may not be an ideal track for him. He is possibly better going right-handed than left-handed.”
The Curragh trainer insisted, however, that Rite Of Passage’s Flat focus is in the immediate term and said: “I would have little doubt he will run again over hurdles. In fact I would say it is almost certain. But we will concentrate on winning a second Ascot Gold Cup for the time being.”
Hidden Universe is another smart dual-purpose horse among the Weld team and made an impressive winning debut over flights at Leopardstown during the Christmas festival.
He is currently a 12 to 1 third favourite behind Cue Card and Zaidpour for the Supreme at Cheltenham but the trainer reported yesterday: “There are no definite plans for him.”
The Troytown Chase winner Jack The Bus looks like he won’t be seen in action again this season with a minor leg injury and a liking for soft ground appearing to rule out his options. Jack The Bus was part of a memorable double for owner Séamus Murphy in November as his runner Hello Bud also won the Becher Chase at Aintree the same day as Jack The Bus landed the Troytown.
“He was supposed to run at Christmas but he got a bit of leg trouble so we’ve given him a break. It’s not serious,” Murphy said of the Peter Casey-trained veteran yesterday.
“Jack The Bus probably won’t run again this season,” he added.
