Celtic Champion wins £15,000 Tattersalls Craven Breeze up Bonus
British EBF Novice Stakes
Total Prize money
£20,130
CELTIC CHAMPION recorded his maiden victory at his third start at Salisbury in the British EBF Novice Stakes and won a £15,000 Craven Breeze Up Bonus, earning total prize money of £20,130. He was purchased at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale for 150,000 gns by Opulence Thoroughbreds from Longways Stables.
Time Form
Race Review
Time: 73.88s Closing Sectional: (3.25f): 0.00s
CELTIC CHAMPION strong in the betting, showed improved form to get off the mark, despite still having something to learn, impresing with his strength at the finish (will stay 7f); raced wide, in touch, led under pressure over 2f out, wandered over 1f out, kept going well.
There were a few newcomers in this 2-y-o event with useful pedigrees, though it was an experienced pair that came to the fore, the improveing fvourite seeing it out in good style, the third and fourth both showing some promise on debut.
Salisbury: Wednesday
A flag start was required for the 12-runner 6f novice stakes, and while it proved a "disaster" for Jason Watson and Celtic Champion, it did not stop the 7-4 favourite recording an emphatic victory.
The jockey felt he lost six to seven lengths at the start as he then had to push the Andrew Balding-trained runner back into a prominent position. He also faced the burden of travelling widest yet his mount overcame the difficulties and then greenness to strike by two and three-quarter lengths.
"It just didn't go right for me," Watson reflected on his 60th winner of the season. "The start was a disaster then we were trapped wide throughout the race, but he's very straightforward to deal with.
"He's picked up pretty immediately then wandered around when he got there. That tells me there's more to come and he's still showing signs of greenness. I think he's quite gifted."