Rite Of Passage: a decision to be taken after his next run on February 17
PICTURE: Caroline NorrisWeld issues warning over Cheltenham favourites
DERMOT WELD, who trains two of the favourites for the Cheltenham Festival, wants punters to hold fire before backing either Rite Of Passage or Elegant Concorde.
Rite Of Passage is as low as 4-1 for the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle, and Elegant Concorde leads the market for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.
Speaking on Monday morning, Weld said: "It is only fair that everyone is put in the picture. Rite Of Passage will run over 2m4f at Punchestown on February 17 and, depending on how he fares, we will have decisions to make.
"He is also in the Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle and we will also have to consider whether he goes to Cheltenham at all or is kept for a campaign on the Flat."
Rite Of Passage, a dual bumper winner who ran third behind Dunguib in the Champion Bumper at last year's Cheltenham Festival, won on his hurdling debut at Leopardstown last month.
Regarding Elegant Concorde, Weld said: "He is a very talented young horse, but he won his bumper at Leopardstown on yielding ground and if it comes up very soft at Cheltenham he would not be a certain runner."
Elegant Concorde was having only his second start when scoring by two lengths at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting and is generally available at 6-1 for the Cheltenham bumper.
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