Person: Philip Hobbs

Altior still in the running for Cheltenham Champion Chase

Altior remains in the running to defend his crown in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

Mon, 09 Mar, 2020

Pat Keane: Notebook looks Festival banker

NOTHING for it this week then, with Storm Ciara messing us about big-time, but to look ahead to the Cheltenham Festival in an effort to pinpoint some value.

Sat, 15 Feb, 2020

Al Boum Photo on course for Gold Cup defence

Reigning champion Al Boum Photo is one of 20 horses still in contention for the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup following the latest scratchings deadline for the six non-novice Grade Ones at next month’s Festival.

Wed, 12 Feb, 2020

Ten horses to watch out for as the jumps season gets going

Stay on the good side of these 10 chasers in the months ahead.

Wed, 06 Nov, 2019

Declan Lavery has 10-day Cheltenham ban quashed on appeal

Declan Lavery has had his 10-day riding ban quashed following an appeal heard by an independent disciplinary panel at the headquarters of the British Horseracing Authority on Thursday.

Thu, 21 Mar, 2019

Defi Du Seuil in form and set for February return

Connections of Defi Du Seuil remain in no rush to map out a second-half-of-the-campaign programme for last season’s champion juvenile hurdler.

Fri, 05 Jan, 2018

10 chasers to follow for the National Hunt season

If horses were footballers then Mite Bite would be a cross between Gazza and Cantona, writes Colm Greaves.

Fri, 17 Nov, 2017

Cheltenham Racing Festival - Gold Cup Day

Bryony Frost relishing Old Guard chance in Greatwood Hurdle

Bryony Frost is excited at the prospect of teaming up with Old Guard in the Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday.

Tue, 14 Nov, 2017

19 Cheltenham winners - but the underbelly tells a very different story

It really is one of the great contradictions. The evidence provided by the Cheltenham festival - an unprecedented 19 winners for Ireland - tells us that the National Hunt game in this country is absolutely flying, writes Pat Keane.

Sun, 26 Mar, 2017

Tommy Lyons: De Bromhead’s Midas touch works again with Champagne West

Tommy Lyons gives you the latest insights from Gowran Park.

Fri, 27 Jan, 2017

Colourful Paul Carberry was a master of the waiting game

To say Paul Carberry has had a colourful career is a massive understatement.

Wed, 10 Aug, 2016

Next Sensation out to atone for festival disappointment

Michael Scudamore is hoping the better spring conditions will help Next Sensation stay the longer trip of the Teenage Cancer Trust Silver Trophy Chase at Cheltenham today.

Wed, 13 Apr, 2016

Carlingford Lough set to swerve Aintree Grand National

Carlingford Lough will not run in the Crabbie’s Grand National at Aintree next Saturday.

Mon, 04 Apr, 2016

Willie Mullins aims big guns at Aintree

The Crabbie’s Grand National meeting could start with a bang as the imperious Douvan is among 18 entries in the Merseryrail Manifesto Novices’ Chase next Thursday.

Sat, 02 Apr, 2016

Balthazar King gunning for third win in Cross Country Chase

If there is to be a fairytale winner at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, then a third victory in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase today for Balthazar King is likely to be it.

Wed, 16 Mar, 2016

Handicap hopes: Your EW Cheltenham Festival Super Yankee

When the discarded betting slips are swept up Friday, the regrets will focus almost totally on the championship races, ignoring the fact 10 contests, or almost 40% of the total, are handicaps.

Tue, 15 Mar, 2016

For Good Measure looks to be every inch a winner

For Good Measure looks a live contender for a typically wide-open renewal of the Close Brothers Imperial Cup at Sandown tomorrow.

Fri, 11 Mar, 2016

Cheltenham Gold Cup an option for Many Clouds

It appears increasingly likely that Crabbie’s Grand National winner Many Clouds may attempt to do the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup-Aintree double after his intended prep race was scuppered by the weather at Kelso on Saturday.

Mon, 07 Mar, 2016

Rockerfeller ruled out of Coral Cup due to ‘impossible task’ at the weights

Neil King has all but ruled Lil Rockerfeller out of appearing in the Coral Cup after stressing the weight he would have to carry would leave him with an almost impossible task.

Tue, 01 Mar, 2016

Blazer among Willie Mullins’ handicap squad for Cheltenham Festival

Entries have been revealed for the 10 handicaps at the Cheltenham Festival with less than three weeks to go before the meeting gets under way.

Fri, 26 Feb, 2016

Many Clouds favourite for Grand National despite top weight

Last year’s winner Many Clouds remains favourite for the Crabbie’s Grand National following confirmation yesterday he will carry top weight in the Aintree spectacular.

Wed, 17 Feb, 2016

Paul Nicholls: Dominant Cheltenham will seal trainers’ title for Willie Mullins

Paul Nicholls has conceded it would be near impossible to claim a ninth National Hunt Trainers’ Championship should Willie Mullins dominate at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

Wed, 10 Feb, 2016

Don Poli spearheads Willie Mullins’ challenge

Willie Mullins is responsible for seven of the 17 entries for the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on February 6.

Fri, 15 Jan, 2016

Garde La Victoire gives Richard Johnson landmark 3,000th win

Richard Johnson celebrated another milestone moment at Ludlow yesterday after Garde La Victoire provided him with the 3,000th National Hunt winner of his career when maintaining his unbeaten record over fences in the Racing UK Winter Novices’ Chase.

Wed, 13 Jan, 2016

Home Of The Brave stripped of Minstrel Stakes success

Home Of The Brave has been stripped of his victory in the Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh in July after testing positive for a prohibited substance.

Tue, 05 Jan, 2016

Saviour’s day as Richard Johnson reaches landmark 3,000 career winners

Richard Johnson hailed the journey to his 3,000th career success as “an amazing experience” after St Saviour at Ludlow gave the champion jockey-elect another landmark winner yesterday.

Tue, 05 Jan, 2016

Camping Ground turns on style at Cheltenham

Robert Walford saw his decision to put chasing ambitions on hold and abort an attempt at the King George with Camping Ground vindicated with a dominant success in the Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Sat, 02 Jan, 2016

Sausalito Sunrise to miss Welsh National

Philip Hobbs may work backwards from the Scottish Grand National with Sausalito Sunrise after revealing he is likely to swerve the Welsh equivalent.

Mon, 21 Dec, 2015

Harry Fry expecting big run from Jolly’s Cracked It

In-form trainer Harry Fry sees Jolly’s Cracked It’s “love of Ascot” as a major positive ahead of his return to the track for the Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle today.

Sat, 19 Dec, 2015

Philip Hobbs camp not keen on Grand National for Balthazar King

Balthazar King is more likely to run in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival than the Crabbie’s Grand National after he made a welcome return to Philip Hobbs’ yard yesterday.

Wed, 16 Dec, 2015

Annacotty attempts to secure notable double in Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham

Alan King believes Paddy Power Gold Cup hero Annacotty is in even better shape than he was last month as he aims to secure a notable double in Saturday’s Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Sat, 12 Dec, 2015

Special Tiara team undecided about appealing result of Saturday’s Tingle Creek at Sandown

Special Tiara’s owner Sally Rowley-Williams will wait until later in the week before deciding whether to appeal the result of Saturday’s Tingle Creek at Sandown.

Tue, 08 Dec, 2015

Unbeaten Vroum Vroum Mag revved up for trip to Huntingdon

Vroum Vroum Mag could put her unbeaten six-race record for Willie Mullins on the line at Huntingdon on Sunday after she featured amongst 13 entries for the Betfred Peterborough Chase.

Tue, 01 Dec, 2015

Saphir Du Rheu sparkling for Hennessy Gold Cup bid, says Paul Nicholls

Paul Nicholls believes Hennessy Gold Cup favourite Saphir Du Rheu can defy the burden of top weight at Newbury today.

Sat, 28 Nov, 2015

Harry Fry eyes dry run at Ascot for Rock On Ruby

Harry Fry would like conditions to be dry as stable star Rock On Ruby drops back in trip in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot today.

Sat, 21 Nov, 2015

Silviniaco Conti ready for third Betfair Chase success, says Paul Nicholls

Paul Nicholls expects Silviniaco Conti to be primed for action as he shoots for a third success in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

Wed, 18 Nov, 2015

Paul Nicholls bullish about Silviniaco Conti prospects in Betfair Chase

Paul Nicholls expects Silviniaco Conti to be primed for action as he shoots for a third success in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.

Tue, 17 Nov, 2015

Modem takes full advantage

In the absence of Identity Thief, the Jessica Harrington-trained Modem was sent off a red-hot 1/10 favourite to beat sole rival Baby Jake in the featured Follow Punchestown On Twitter and Facebook Rated Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

Thu, 15 Oct, 2015

Ballynagour primed for Punchestown trip

David Pipe is targeting the Bibby Financial Services Ireland Punchestown Gold Cup with Ballynagour following his tremendous effort in defeat at Aintree last week.

Tue, 14 Apr, 2015

Balthazar King making progress after Grand Naional fall

Philip Hobbs reports Balthazar King to be making “steady progress” as he recovers from his fall in the Crabbie’s Grand National.

Mon, 13 Apr, 2015

Tony McCoy sides with Cantlow in Irish Grand National

Tony McCoy will ride Cantlow for his boss JP McManus in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday.

Sat, 04 Apr, 2015

Fairyhouse to be AP McCoy’s last Irish engagement

One of the biggest racing crowds of the year is expected to be boosted next weekend by confirmation that the Fairyhouse Grand National meeting will be AP McCoy’s last Irish engagement before his retirement.

Tue, 31 Mar, 2015

Crystal Pearl can get off the mark for Charles Byrnes

Crystal Pearl should be capable of giving Charles Byrnes his first success of 2015 in the opener on Cork’s Red FM Student Race Day at Cork racecourse in Mallow today.

Thu, 26 Mar, 2015

Paul Stafford adds to gains at Hexham as Better B Quick rewards favourite backers

Irish trainer Paul Stafford kept up his fine run of form at Hexham as Better B Quick rewarded favourite-backers in the SIS Handicap Chase.

Wed, 25 Mar, 2015

Sky’s the limit for progressive Farmer

Sat, 21 Mar, 2015

Grand Jesture and Gallant Oscar top Grand National betting

Grand Jesture and Gallant Oscar, second and third respectively behind The Druids Nephew at Cheltenham last week, have been installed as 10-1 joint-favourites with the sponsors for the €275,000 BoyleSports Irish Grand National after the weights were announced for the Fairyhouse feature on April 6.

Thu, 19 Mar, 2015

Rich Ricci tips the ‘real’ Vautour for glory at Cheltenham

Owner Rich Ricci believes Vautour may have been underestimated ahead of today’s JLT Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.

Thu, 12 Mar, 2015

Hobbs unveils Cheltenham hopes

Philip Hobbs identified Big Easy and Duke Of Lucca as two of his big chances at the Cheltenham Festival next week.

Mon, 02 Mar, 2015

David Pipe hoping Kings Palace can reign supreme in RSA Chase

David Pipe believes unbeaten novice chaser Kings Palace is his “best hope of a festival winner” when he lines up in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham next month.

Tue, 17 Feb, 2015

Monbeg Dude banking on cool dude Tony McCoy in Trial

Racing royalty mixes with the real thing today as Tony McCoy rides Monbeg Dude for the first time in Haydock’s Betfred Grand National Trial. 

Sat, 14 Feb, 2015

#HomeAtHeart

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