Pat Smullen eyes another Bumper Festival

Pat Smullen is looking forward to having another ride for his boss Dermot Weld in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival.

The former champion Flat jockey steered Rite Of Passage into third place behind brilliant winner Dunguib in the race last year and is likely to team up this time with Hidden Universe.

He has won his only start to date and holds an entry, along with his stablemate Endless Intrigue, in the Ladbrokes Cheltenham Bumper Series INH Flat Race at Leopardstown on Sunday.

'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,' he told At The Races.

'Whichever he puts me on I'd be very glad to ride. 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.

'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.'