Trainer Ed Walker has long had a high opinion of CELANDINE so it was disappointing to see her miss the break on her seasonal debut in a listed race over six furlongs at Newmarket earlier this month.
Given her tardy start, her run when fifth behind Flora of Bermuda showed she still has talent and there could be more to come this season as the horse, a former winner of the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York as a two-year-old, is still only four years old.
Tomorrow Celandine will have her favourable fast ground conditions but it will be even more important that she gets away sharply as the listed Betway Achilles Stakes (Carlisle 2.33 p.m.) is over the minimum trip of five furlongs.
Celandine has a bit to make up on some of the market leaders on official ratings but I am hoping her in-form rider Kieran Shoemark will be able to win another valuable pot, after the victory of Almaqam for the trainer/jockey combination in a Group 1 in Ireland last weekend.
There are plenty of dangers, headed by the likely market leaders, Starlust trained by Ralph Beckett and Redorange in the care of Clive Cox. Starlust is racing for the first time in nearly a year after a huge run when fourth to American Affair in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot last season. In contrast, Redorange is running for the third time in just over two weeks.
However, Celandine has two Grade 1 entries at this year’s Royal Ascot meeting in the main sprints and so, if she is going to take part in one of those, she surely needs to win or go close tomorrow in a race that has been re-arranged at Carlisle after Haydock was cancelled due to unsafe ground conditions. Back Celandine 1 point each way at a stand-out 13-2 with bet365, paying three places.
I am willing to take on the short priced favourite, the David O’Meara trained Estrange, in tomorrow’s Group 3 Betway Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes (Carlisle, 3.10 p.m.). She would almost certainly win this on her best form but this is her seasonal debut and she is a better horse with give in the ground. As with Celandine’s race, I hope all eight runners stand their ground to enable each way betting with three places.
In-form handler Owen Burrows trains the next two in the market in Azaniya, who has had a prep run for this race earlier this month, and Waardah, who is making her seasonal debut.
On balance, I will take a chance with the Ed Bethell trained COEDANA, who – like Celandine – needs to find a bit on official figures. This four-year-old filly progressed in handicaps last year and ran well enough to finish second in a listed race at Goodwood earlier this month in a steadily-run contest not suited to her hold-up style of racing.
Hopefully, she will get a more truly-run race tomorrow as stamina in her key strength and so, tentatively, I am going to suggest a 1 point each way bet on her at 14-1 with BetVictor, Ladbrokes or Coral, all paying three places.
Next week I will, of course, be turning my attention to the Betfred Derby at Epsom and I will have a strong fancy for the ‘Dash’, provided the horse I like runs. There are no early entries for this sprint handicap and therefore no ante-post odds on offer as yet.
Pending:
1 point each way Celandine at 13-2 for the Achilles Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Coedana at 14-1 for the Lester Piggott Fillies Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Venetian Lace at 12-1 for the Oaks, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Rogue Diplomat at 25-1 for the Royal Hunt Cup, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Rahiebb at 14-1 for the Ascot Gold Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
Last weekend: + 9.125 points.
1 point each way King of LIght at 17-2 in the William Hill Epic Boost Handicap, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. Non runner. Stake returned.
1 point each way Jakajaro at 10-1 in the Temple Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places. 4th + 1 point.
1 point each way Almaqam at SP in the Tattersalls Gold Cup with the bookmaker offering most places. 1st 13-2, ¼ odds, 2 places. + 8.125 points.
2026 flat season running total: – 6.075 points.
2025-26 jumps season: – 57.785 points,
2025 flat season: + 84.12 points on all tips.
2024-5 jumps season: – 47.61 points on all tips.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jumps season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
Total for seven full seasons of tipping: + 68.215 points.
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