Rite Of Passage, the one-time favourite for the 2010 Melbourne Cup, is likely to be aimed at next year's Gold Cup at Ascot rather than the Cheltenham jumps festival.

Dermot Weld produced one of his greatest training performances to nurse the 2010 Gold Cup winner back from injury to win the British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot in October, his first racecourse appearance in more than a year.

He has moved to prominence in markets for the World Hurdle following the shock news four-time winner Big Buck's will miss the rest of the season with injury.

While Weld says his charge could return to the jumping game one day, he is more focused on another Gold Cup.

"He's back, he's sound, he's very well and in exercise daily," Weld told At The Races.

"I spoke with Dr Lambe (owner) and we decided we'd have one more crack at the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot with him in 2013. That remains his target.

"He's a very talented horse. The only risk for the Gold Cup is the ground, that it could get too firm at Ascot in the summer time.

"We could always go back in 2014 and train him for the long distance hurdle at Cheltenham. That was the decision and I would say we'll probably stick with it."

Rite Of Passage did not contest the 2010 Melbourne Cup won by French horse Americain.