Keltic Bard gets his chasing career back on track

Keltic Bard, fourth in last year's Supreme Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham, may have booked himself a return trip to the Festival in March after scoring at Leicester yesterday.

A crack at the Arkle Trophy is on the cards for the Charlie Mann-trained gelding, who was confidently ridden by Noel Fehily to beat Sir Talbot by two lengths.

Mann, just back from a skiing holiday, was represented by Chrissy Barnard, who said: "We will never know what was wrong with Keltic Bard at Uttoxeter [when favourite but only fifth 25 days ago], but he is in better form now and I was quite confident this morning."

Keltic Bard would not be the first horse to get stuck in the bad ground which plagues Uttoxeter during the winter. If he falls short of Arkle standard he should certainly pay his way in handicaps.

At Lingfield today, Easter Ogil (2.10) looks another possible winner for Lisa Jones, who again impressed when successful on Prima Stella at Southwell yesterday. Easter Ogil is at his best on the Polytrack and is handicapped to go close over a distance - 12 furlongs - which suits him well nowadays.

Expected to improve on his Kempton fourth behind Tarque, Lord Of Beauty (1.20) is the best bet at Newbury.