Flat option favoured for Weld ace

Unaccompanied is unlikely to take her chance in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

She was left in the Grade Two contest, formerly known as the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle, as a precaution in case something happened to Quevega, winner of the race for the last three years.

The Dermot Weld-trained five-year-old, fourth to Hurricane Fly in the Irish Champion Hurdle on her latest start, will probably revert to the Flat for next month’s Alleged Stakes at the Curragh, which she won last spring.

“I don’t think she’ll run at Cheltenham. She was entered just in case something happened to the favourite. She’d have a great chance then,” said Stan Cosgrove, racing manager for owners Moyglare Stud.

“She’ll run later on, maybe the Alleged Stakes back on the Flat.

“We’ll probably keep her on the Flat for this year and she’ll be a great mare to breed from when she retires.

“This may be her last year.”