Celtic Dino on song at Ascot
Celtic Dino ridden by Dylan Johnston
Celtic Dino put in an impressive display when winning the Troy Asset Management “Introductory” Hurdle.at Ascot on Friday.
Th 4/6 favourite, in the hands of Dylan Johnston, was too good for Olly Murphy’s Wade Out, Nicky Henderson’s Joyeuse and Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm’s French raider Nothing To Sea, who had all brought unbeaten records to the table in Berkshire.
The five-year-old pulled clear in the straight to seal a four-and-a-quarter-length verdict, with Wade Out best of the rest in second.
Trainer Sam Thomas, who watched on from Chepstow, said: “It was a better race today and to see him go and win like that was great. It’s exciting to have a nice horse like that and we just need to look after him, take it one race at a time and not get too carried away.
“He’s a big baby, that’s the way I’d describe him. Even at home in everything he does he’s green, but it’s exciting and nice to have such a talented horse in the yard. I’m very lucky.”
Paddy Power cut Celtic Dino to 25/1 from 40/1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and Thomas is looking forward to raising his sights, but heavy ground will be avoided.
He added: “I don’t have a whole pile in mind, other than we had a good bit of success with the way Lump Sum went last season. He finished second in the Grade Two at Doncaster (Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle) and then won the Dovecote at Kempton.
“We could follow a similar route with this horse because I think he wants a flat track and good ground, but we’ll see. He’s definitely not going to want the ground too soft.”
