Philip Hobbs Exclusive Interview

Philip Hobbs has been hugely successful at the Cheltenham festival in recent years and has some very interesting runners heading to the festival this year - we spoke to him about their targets, their chances and more...

Firstly, let’s look back before we look ahead – 2 winners last year, 5 over the 4 years before that, you’ve had some great days at the festival. Can you pick one that stands out? 
Rooster Booster winning the Champion Hurdle was the highlight

Rooster Booster on his way to winning the 2003 Champion
Hurdle for Hobbs

As a trainer, what do you find it takes from a horse to win here at Cheltenham? How different is the festival and could you describe the atmosphere here in March? 
You need a horse rated 135 and, even in the handicaps, that is in the form of his life. The atmosphere is simply as good as it gets.

Both Return Spring and Royal Player are entered in both the RSA and the 4 miler, what are you leaning towards with them? Cheltenian’s entered in the JLT and the Arkle, where are you more likely to head with him and why? 
Return Spring will go in the 4 mile. Royal Player won’t run. Cheltenian will go in the County Hurdle after his very good run in the Betfair Hurdle.

You’ve got three entered in the Arkle, who will run and how do you rate their chances?
It's only Dunraven Storm, that could have an each way chance on good ground.

You must be really happy with Menorah’s form this season up until the King George, what would you put it down to? What were your thoughts on the King George run and how do you rate his chances in the Ryanair? Thoughts on Wishfull Thinking in the same regard?
He ran really well up to the King George and I don’t know why he disappointed. He probably won’t run in Ryan Air, while Wishfull Thinking probably will.

How would you rate Garde La Victoire’s chances in the Champion Hurdle was he to run?
Garde La Victoire will probably run in a handicap if at all.

Finally, a word on your Grand National entries – Chance Du Roy, Duke Of Lucca, Gas Line Boy and last year’s 2nd Balthazar King - will they go straight to the National? 
Chance Du Roy and Balthazar King will go straight to Aintree but I don’t know about the other two yet.

Could you give us one tip for the festival and one horse to watch for next season?
Wait For Me could be both.

Wait For Me is currently 12/1 for the Champion Bumper with Bet365 - if you haven't already got an account, you can open one here to take advantage of their many special offers in the build-up to and during the festival, and throughout the year.