'He looks as if he's back to his best' - Celtic Dino bidding to give last year's winning team another Welsh Champion Hurdle

The Welsh Champion Hurdle has been staged at Ffos Las for the last 14 years, but it has been moved back to its original home at Chepstow as part of the track's revamped three-day festival.

Vol Solitaire won the last running held here back in 2002 for Paul Nicholls, who has started the season in fine form. He is operating at an impressive strike-rate of 42 per cent, having trained 20 winners from just 48 runners.

Nicholls is bidding to equal Martin Pipe’s record of four wins in the Welsh Champion Hurdle this year with Tutti Quanti, who was last seen thumping a couple of 127-rated rivals in a 2m novice hurdle at Ffos Las in April.

On that evidence, as well as the fact he was deemed good enough to run in last season’s Supreme, he may be better than his mark of 132. He’s likely to be primed for this assignment, too.

The same trainer-jockey-owner combination who won this last year relies on Celtic Dino, who did well to finish third at Aintree when last seen in April, having been badly hampered soon after the start. There was plenty of support behind him that day, given he started 9-4 favourite, and it’s likely this has been the early-season aim.

Dropping back in trip could suit Listentoyourheart, who recorded three wins over two miles, including a Listed success, before disappointing in a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Aintree. She looks to be on a fair mark.

There is also likely more to come from Wilful, who was beaten less than a length in a Listed handicap hurdle at the Punchestown festival.

The form has been franked by the fourth, who has since won a Grade 3 hurdle, and the fifth, who finished first past the post in the Galway Hurdle. He could be underestimated by a 6lb rise.
Analysis by Harry Wilson

Wilful: could be nicely treatedCredit: Getty Images

Going latest

The ground at Chepstow is good to firm on the chase course and good on the hurdles track.

What they say

Sam Thomas, trainer of Celtic Dino
This is a nice start to his season. We've had a quiet summer but hopefully he'll be in good shape for it. A lot of these are crying out for a bit more juice in the ground, but he wouldn't want it too soft. He had a good campaign last season, we shouldn't have run at Aintree in December as it was too testing. He looks as if he's back to his best now so fingers crossed for a good run.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Tutti Quanti
He's going chasing, but with the ground being okay on the hurdles track we thought we'd come here first. He's in good shape for it although it's a competitive race. We think a lot of him, but whether he's well handicapped or not we'll find out.

Harry Derham, trainer of Balhambar
We've trained him for this race. He consistently ran well without winning last season, but I'm not sure if he's well handicapped. He's had a run on the Flat so should be fit for this. There's some good prize-money on offer this weekend, all credit to Chepstow, so we've had a good look at this race. It's a good opportunity before the racing gets more competitive in the winter.
Reporting by James Stevens

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