Celebre D’Allen

Celebre D’Allen did well to finish fifth in the Plate at Cheltenham on Thursday, given that he was held up early on in a race in which the prominent racers have dominated in recent years. This year was true to form too, with Coole Cody leading for most of the way, and four of the first six home racing prominently or just behind the leaders. Celebre D’Allen was held up early on, he was just about last as they turned away from the stands with a circuit to run, and he was still third last jumping the fifth last fence. He did start to make ground as they raced down the hill, but he was still only ninth as they raced to the home turn. He stayed on well from the top of the home straight, but a mistake at the second last fence didn’t help and, while it never looked like he was going to get close to the winner Coole Cody, he kept on well for Tom O’Brien to take fifth place, just over 10 lengths behind the winner.

Philip Hobbs’ horse is 10 now, but he has only run seven times over fences, and just twice over fences since he joined Philip Hobbs. A winner over hurdles and fences for Louisa Carberry in France, he won his first two races for Philip Hobbs earlier this season, both over hurdles, and he ran out a nice winner of a two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase at Warwick in February on his first run over fences for his new trainer. The handicapper raised him by 6lb for that to a mark of 141, but he has dropped him by 1lb for his Plate run, and a mark of 140 looks more than fair. As well as that, he may do better back on a flatter track, he is two for two at Haydock and he obviously runs well at Auteuil. He will be of interest if he goes to Aintree, and he could step up in trip.
Cheltenham, 17^th March 2022