Celandine secures Lowther Stakes honours
York Group Two goes to Ed Walker-trained filly.
Celandine dug deep to secure a front-running victory in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York.
Sent off a 13-2 shot for trainer Ed Walker and jockey Tom Marquand, Celandine was reverting to fillies-only company having taken third in the Prix Robert Papin and fourth in the Molecomb Stakes on her two most recent starts.
She broke sharply for Marquand who was happy to bowl along in front and had left a little up his sleeve as Celandine repelled all challengers in the six-furlong contest.
Time For Sandals made a late bid for glory in the final half-furlong, but Celandine just edged victory by a neck with Queen Mary Stakes winner Leovanni a further length and a half back in third and favourite Heavens Gate in fourth.
Betfair make the winner, who is a daughter of Kingman, an 8-1 chance from 16s for the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket next month.
