Soft ground a must for Unaccompanied
The Curragh trainer warns that the filly is ground dependent and the master of Rosewell is unsure if she would handle faster conditions effectively.
Unaccompanied is second favourite with most bookmakers for the Triumph, at a best-priced 7-1, after winning both her starts over jumps so far, including the Grade One Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown two weeks ago.
“She loves a good give in the ground, she’s very effective on soft ground and whether she’ll be as effective on a fast surface is debatable,” Weld told At The Races.
“I’m not convinced our four-year-old hurdlers are particularly good. She’s probably the best of an average team. That said, in soft ground she’s very good
“The Grade One here was a reasonably good race. I think she will progress, I think she’s very good, but she is ground dependent.”
Weld wants decent ground for his other Festival hopeful, Hidden Universe, who is line for the Stan James Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
The five-year-old opened his account over timber at Leopardstown in December and was fourth back there behind Oscars Well in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle recently.
“He’s the only other possibility (for Cheltenham). He’s a good-ground horse and he won the Grade One bumper at Punchestown last year,” added Weld.
“He was fourth in the Grade One at Leopardstown the other day. By bringing him back in distance on better ground I think you’ll see a big run from him. He’ll go for the Supreme.”
Meanwhile Paddy Brennan is relishing the prospect of riding Imperial Commander in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The reigning champion got mixed reviews for a racecourse gallop at Warwick but his big-race pilot was delighted with a spin at Kempton on Saturday.
“I was really pleased driving home on Saturday night and it’s just great to have the horse back somewhere near his best. We have three more weeks until Cheltenham and everything’s A1 now,” Brennan told At The Races.
“He was more back to himself, giving me that feel, and I’m really looking forward to riding him now, the excitement’s back and it would be amazing to win another Gold Cup. I’m counting down the days.”
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ gelding has raced only once this season, winning the Betfair Chase at Haydock, but he needed time off with a cut leg.
