Smullen on First Figaro

IRISH champion Flat jockey Pat Smullen will ride First Figaro in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham next Wednesday.

Smullen has fi nished fi fth on Vigil in the last two runnings of the race and First Figaro is similarly trained by his boss, Dermot Weld.

“He’s a bit of an outsider at the moment but the drier the ground the better he’ll be,” said Smullen, right.

“The undulations catch out inexperienced horses, and has them all at sea. It’s a race I’d love to win. If anything comes close to Cheltenham on the Flat, it is probably the Melbourne Cup.

“The atmosphere really is unbelievable – very special – and, for me, it is something the Flat lacks a bit.”

First Figaro won at the Galway Festival. In his only subsequent race he fi nished second to the unbeaten Lucky Pass at Leopardstown over Christmas. He is around the 16- 1 mark for next week’s race.