Mann favours Ascot for Bard

Keltic Bard is likely to go for Gold at Ascot on Saturday instead of taking his chance in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on the same afternoon.

Despite Charlie Mann’s reservations about the ground at the Berkshire venue, the Upper Lambourn handler is still leaning towards the £100,000 United House Gold Cup Handicap.

“We’d probably look at going for the Ascot race because he’s ‘better in’ there than at Wetherby,” said Mann.

“He worked very well on Saturday and looks to be just about there.

“I would like to run him but a lot would depend on the ground – I wouldn’t want to run him if the ground wasn’t right.

“I’ll go to Ascot on Friday and walk the course and we’ll take it from there.”

Keltic Bard was in contention for last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup after creating a favourable impression when third in the Sky Bet Chase at Southwell in January – his first outing after winning a Grade Two novices’ chase in April 2004.

However, the nine-year-old sustained a stress fracture to his near-fore cannon bone and has not been seen on a racecourse since.

The talented gelding is back in business, however, and has also been earmarked as a possible runner in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury on November 25.

“He’s in very good order and has had a good summer,” Mann added.

“He ran well first time out fresh at Southwell and it was just desperately disappointing how things worked out after that.

“The plan would be to run in the Hennessy if everything worked out.”