Thomas sets sights on Betfair bid with Celtic Dino

Trainer plotting headline handicap challenge with Wincanton winner.

Sam Thomas has set Celtic Dino an ambitious target after the five-year-old made a big impression on his successful hurdling debut at Wincanton.

The Dai Walters-owned gelding was sent off as the 2-5 favourite for the Fitzdares Season Opener At Wincanton Maiden Hurdle after winning two of his three bumpers last term.

As a half-brother to Saint Segal, runner-up in the 2021 Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow, the son of Doctor Dino is bred for the jumping game and upheld family honour in impressive fashion.

Having been a touch green early on, Celtic Dino warmed to the task and superb leaps at the final two obstacles helped him to pull 14 lengths clear of second favourite Ma Shantou.

More success looks assured in the novice department, but Thomas is already eyeing up a possible tilt at a valuable handicap, with the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury in February on his radar.

The trainer told Racing TV: “He got a bit hot before racing and he’s still got lots to learn, but as much schooling as he’s done at home, it’s nice to see them a bit green in a race like that because you know they are going to come on for it.

“The Betfair would be the obvious target. He’d need a run every month to qualify, as he’d need four runs for that, but that would be the sort of thing we’d be looking at, ideally.

“I think he’s a top-of-the-ground horse and he’s just a dude isn’t he. He pointed his toe there and he jumped great, I was just pleased to see him have a good look. As a jockey as well, you know they are going to come forward from that.

“We’re very lucky, we’ve got lots of nice horses and Mr Walters has been an amazing supporter of mine, so I’m just pleased to be able to do his horses justice.”

Thomas had two winners for Walters over the weekend, with Palacio springing a 20-1 surprise at Chepstow before Lump Sum justified strong support when beating stablemate Steel Ally in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las.

Both winners were partnered by conditional jockey Dylan Johnston, who has also been successful for Neil Mulholland of late and looks set to be a rising star of the riding ranks.

After his latest triumph on Celtic Dino, Thomas added: “Dylan was really great, he’s still learning about all the horses on the track and he gave him a fantastic ride.

“It’s a lot of pressure on a young lad, he had a great weekend there for us at the Welsh Champion Hurdle, he’s a top jockey and hopefully he’ll just keep going the same way now.”

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