Pat Smullen is relishing the chance to riding in next month's Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival.
Pat Smullen is relishing the chance to riding in next month's Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival.
As stable jockey to Dermot Weld, Smullen has the opportunity to ride either Hidden Universe or Endless Intrigue in the National Hunt Flat Race on the second day of the Festival.
He steered Rite Of Passage into third place in last year's Grade One and he is excited at the prospect of lining up alongside his National Hunt counterparts once again, no matter which horse he ends up one.
"We've got two very nice horses that have won both their bumpers and the plan is to go with one of them to the Cheltenham Bumper so hopefully I'll get the ride on one of them," the former Irish champion Flat jockey said.
"Whichever he puts me on I'd be very glad to ride."
Both horses are entered in the Ladbrokes Cheltenham Bumper Series INH Flat Race at Leopardstown on Sunday and Smullen was impressed with the way Hidden Universe won on his only start to date.
"Hidden Universe has been there since he was a yearling. I know him well and we always thought he was going to be a nice horse and was always going to be a bumper type and the patience the boss has shown has paid off. He won easily first time out," he told At The Races.
"Rite Of Passage ran well in it last year. It takes a good horse to win the Cheltenham Bumper as you can see from last year.
"I'm very fortunate to have a boss who usually has a decent bumper horse and gives you the opportunity to ride. It would be great to win and hopefully we'd have a good chance."