DERMOT WELD expects to have a couple of runners when Ireland’s 2010 flat season kicks off at Dundalk on Friday but with three major Cheltenham hopes in his yard the legendary Curragh trainer is also focusing on the start of the festival in three weeks time.

Rite Of Passage is a best priced 7 to 2 favourite for the Neptune Investments Novices’ Hurdle while Elegant Concorde is a 6 to 1 market leader for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper and could be joined by his stable companion, Hidden Universe, who will run at Leopardstown this Sunday.

Hidden Universe won his only start to date at Leopardstown last month when running out a 10-length winner and is rated second favourite for the Cheltenham bumper by bookmakers.

Weld previously indicated that ground conditions could mean only one of the bumper pair would run at Cheltenham but yesterday he didn’t rule out both horses appearing at the festival.

“Both of them could run. Elegant Concorde is almost certain to run if the ground is at all reasonable. Unless it is heavy the plan is to run him,” the trainer said.

“We’ll run Hidden Universe on Sunday and see how he gets on. Then we will make a decision about Cheltenham.”

No firm jockey plans for the bumper have been made by Weld although his stable jockey on the flat, Pat Smullen, has ridden at Cheltenham a number of times, including on Rite Of Passage last year when that horse ran third to Dunguib.

Weld also said riding plans are “open” for Rite Of Passage who has been ridden to his two victories over hurdles to date by the top amateur Robbie McNamara.

“No decision has been taken on who rides Rite Of Passage but the present plan is that he will run in the Neptune,” he said.

“I was very impressed with Finian’s Rainbow who won at Ascot on Saturday. I thought that was a high-class performance. But the plan is for our horse to go to Cheltenham.”

Weld hopes to have runners at Dundalk on Friday, including Bobs Pride who won at the same meeting last year, but admitted: “The weather has been a big hindrance to us and the horses are not that forward.”

One jockey who can look forward to a potentially fruitful Cheltenham is Paul Townend who has been booked by Willie Mullins for the Gold Cup ride on Cooldine.

With stable jockey Ruby Walsh on Kauto Star in the Gold Cup, and Master Minded in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Mullins has decided to pin his Gold Cup hopes on Townend and the young rider will also carry Archie O’Leary’s colours on Golden Silver in the two-mile championship.

“I probably will be doubly engaged in many of the novice races so Paul should have a good book of rides for the festival,” Mullins said yesterday.

Edward O’Grady could give Tranquil Sea a racecourse gallop ahead of the Cheltenham Festival after ruling out a prep race for the Paddy Power Gold Cup winner following Sunday’s cancellation at Naas.

“We wouldn’t normally run them any closer to the meeting,” he said. “It is certainly not a help. You can’t quantify the impact it might have. I hope it isn’t much. But it’s not a plus.”

Tranquil Sea’s number one option at the festival is the Ryanair Chase and Dessie Hughes also reports Schindlers Hunt to be on course for another crack at that Grade One pot.

The Naas card lost to snow on Sunday will not be rescheduled but the three Grade Two races it was due to feature have been re-fixed with the Nas Na Riogh Chase now set to be run at Thurles on Friday.

The Johnstown Novice Hurdle, which had been due to see an appearance by the Triumph Hurdle fancy Pittoni, will be run at Navan on Saturday while the Newlands Chase is now scheduled to be run at Leopardstown on Sunday.