Celtic Dino in need of decent ground for Greatwood bid

Sam Thomas does not want to see too much rain for Celtic Dino ahead of his intended outing in the Unibet Greatwood Hurdle on Sunday.

The six-year-old impressed when winning the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las, form that has been franked by the runner-up Alexei subsequently winning impressively at Ascot.

Celtic Dino is among the favourites for Sunday’s race but in-form Thomas would not risk him on very soft ground.

“Touch wood he’s in a good place and as it stands we are going to Cheltenham in the Greatwood on Sunday, depending on what the weather does this week,” said the former jockey.

“I don’t mind getting rain but I don’t want it to be monumental and I’d take the ground as it was, and we’d be able to roll the dice and have a go.

“It’ll be tough off top weight I think, but I don’t see why we shouldn’t be going there really.

“He’s ground-dependent so we won’t be going to many tracks once it softens up and I think we will see how we get on at the weekend and if not, we will go up to Ascot on the 22nd of this month for the Ascot Hurdle.

“He could be one for a proper spring campaign and hopefully go to the spring festivals like the Scottish Champion Hurdle or something like that.”