Weld keeping Free Eagle options open

Dermot Weld could leave a final decision on whether or not his star colt Free Eagle runs in Saturday's QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot until the day of the race.

The Curragh trainer admits the prospect of heavy ground conditions at Ascot are less than ideal for a colt whose sole start of 2014 came in last month’s Group 3 Enterprise Stakes at Leopardstown where Free Eagle posted a hugely impressive seven length success.

Free Eagle is currently a 3-1 second favourite for Saturday’s big race behind the French star Cirrus Des Aigles and ‘Champions Weekend’ organisers are keen for the Irish horse to run after the defection earlier this week of The Grey Gatsby due to the ground conditions, and the recent retirement of Australia.

“Obviously I am very concerned about the going for Free Eagle and I will be speaking to the owner (Moyglare Stud.) But there is no rush. We could leave a decision until Saturday when we see what the track is like,” Weld said today.

“Heavy ground is far from ideal. He is a beautiful auctioned colt. But as he has had only the one run this year we are very keen to run. So we will have to see,” Weld added.

Weld confirmed another Moyglare owned horse, the unbeaten Forgotten Rules, is firmly on target to run in Saturday’s Group 2 Long Distance Cup at Ascot.