Conquest decision due Friday

Dermot Weld will make a final decision on Friday morning as to whether Casual Conquest will make the journey to York for next week’s Juddmonte International or stay at home for a weekend engagement.

The four-year-old, winner of the Tattersalls Gold Cup on his penultimate start, let down odds-on backers when third at Leopardstown last month.

The Hernando colt will either head to the Knavesmire for next Tuesday’s Group One or line up in the Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday and the weather will have a bearing on Weld’s plans.

“He’s in the Royal Whip at the Curragh on Sunday and he’s also in the Juddmonte International, so we’ll have to make up our minds tomorrow which way we’re going with the horse,” Weld told At The Races.

“There is no definite decision yet and we’ll wait to see what the weather does over the next 24 hours before we decide what to do.

“He was a little bit disappointing at Leopardstown last time but he has been very consistent. He won a Group One on his previous start and was then off for a nice break.

“He’s a huge horse and probably needed the run a little bit more than I thought last time. He also had 10 stone on his back.”