Dermot Weld’s Ascot Gold Cup winner Rite Of Passage will reappear in the Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown in May.
Having undergone an unusual preperation last summer by not running between the Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot, Weld is going down the more traditional route this summer.
“He’ll hopefully reappear in the Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown which is a traditional Irish prep for the Gold Cup,” said Weld.
“He’s in super order and we’re all set. It’s been a lucky race for me.
“It comes at a nice time of year over a mile and six and it’s a very nice prep for the Gold Cup.”
Weld was delighted with his filly Unaccompanied, who finished second in the Triumph Hurdle last week.
The County Kildare handler now expects the four-year-old to make her presence felt at Punchestown.
“She ran a super race and I think it was a very good renewal. The winner (Zarkandar) could turn out to be a very good horse,” he said.
“I was delighted with her because the ground was a shade faster than she would like and she should continue on her winning ways both at stakes level on the Flat and over hurdles.
“I would say she’ll run in the four-year-old only hurdle race at Punchestown next.
“I think she ran into a very good horse and she was beaten fair and square.”
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