Proud Sam Thomas Savours Home Success With Celtic Dino in Welsh Champion Hurdle

 

Proud Welsh trainer Sam Thomas hailed his team’s hard work and the support of owner Dai Walters after landing another famous victory in the Welsh Champion Hurdle.

Thomas won with Celtic Dino in the showpiece race on the final day of the new Dragonbet Welsh Racing Festival at Chepstow.

The pair, who combined to win the same race 12 months ago with Lump Sum at Ffos Las, struck again as Celtic Dino justified favouritism to claim Sunday’s £50,000 feature in front of a buoyant Welsh crowd.

It was another proud moment for the Cardiff-based trainer, who said the victory underlined both his yard’s progress and the quality of racing on home soil.

“He was as fit as a flea for today,” Thomas told Sky Sports Racing. 

“I do it every season and was just questioning myself whether they've done enough (work) or haven't done enough but huge credit to all the team at home and to Dai for supporting me as always.

"He's an out and out two-miler, that's his conditions today - the quicker the better. I think we might just give him another run, then a mid-season break before bringing him back for the spring festivals.”

The win marked a second successive success in the race for Thomas and Walters, a combination that has become synonymous with Welsh racing excellence. 

Walters – whose navy and white silks have been a familiar sight in top handicaps for decades – was once again quick to salute both the team effort and the move from Ffos Las to Chepstow.

“Five times I've won it now,” said the proud Welsh owner. 

“You can't fault ARC (Arena Racecourse Company), it's closer (than Ffos Las) and you get more attendance.

"He didn't have it all his own way but... everything is good in the camp!"

READ MORE: Bowen Family Lead Welsh Charge as Chepstow Hosts DragonBet Welsh Racing Festival

Under Dylan Johnston, Celtic Dino travelled strongly throughout and always looked the one to beat. 

Sitting behind Norman Fletcher, the six-year-old made his move approaching the third-last flight and quickly put daylight between himself and the field.

Alexei emerged from the pack to give brief chase, but despite a slightly clumsy jump at the final hurdle, Celtic Dino powered clear to win by two and a quarter lengths. Alexei held on for second, with Wilful in third and Listentoyourheart a distant fourth.

It was the perfect start to the season for a horse who showed promise in Graded company last term, and Thomas confirmed a patient campaign lies ahead.

“We've had no runners all summer, every single season I question myself as to whether we've done enough with them but this is a huge credit to the team at home and to Dai for supporting me as always,” the trainer said.

“He's an out-and-out two-miler, those are his conditions - the quicker the better. I think we might just give him a run on that type of ground, give him a mid-season break and then bring him back for a spring campaign until the end of the season.”

Jockey Johnston was full of praise for the improving gelding, who looks set for a productive season.

"I probably got there a bit too soon but to be fair to the horse, he's a relentless galloper," Johnston said. 

"He felt like a very different horse to last year, I rode him one day at Ascot last year on dead ground and it just takes that x-factor away from him.

"Sam and I were just saying to the boss (Walters), maybe he's one for the Fighting Fifth on nice ground and then he should maybe be put away.

"We learned our lesson last year, we ran him up at Aintree and he just wasn't the same horse."

Thomas’s victory capped a hugely successful weekend for Welsh racing, with Chepstow’s inaugural Dragonbet Welsh Racing Festival drawing bumper crowds and strong local interest.

The three-day meeting replaced the old two-day jumps opener, and attendances were up significantly thanks to an emphasis on value for money and family-friendly pricing.

Chepstow general manager Luke Admans said: “We were up 29 per cent on Friday which is really good and Saturday's crowd has been really strong too. 

"Overall it's been really, really strong and we've seen the benefit of the three-day pass. The importance of value for money is the main thing we've got out of this. The three-day pass broken down works out at £13 a day, with loads of entertainment and quality racing. Value is at the heart of what we want to do.”

While quick ground reduced some field sizes, the festival’s success has ensured the event will become a fixture on the autumn racing calendar.

“We wanted to establish this as the place the jump season starts and we've ticked that box and will continue to work hard on it,” Admans added. 

“We've launched the same name for next year, it'll be the Dragonbet Welsh Racing Festival moving forwards and we'll build on what we've done."

Earlier on Sunday, Irish raider Speculatrix claimed the Listed Tom Malone Bloodstock Novices’ Chase, giving jockey Sean Bowen a welcome winner. 

The Gordon Elliott-trained mare edged out odds-on favourite Doyen Quest after a dramatic final fence.