Thinking to skip Punchestown

Wishfull Thinking will try to end the campaign on a high in the Bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

Trainer Philip Hobbs has decided to run the nine-year-old in the Grade Two contest over two miles at the Esher track rather than go for the Boylesports.com Champion Chase at Punchestown on Tuesday.

“He’s going for the Celebration Chase at Sandown on Saturday for two reasons. One is the ground at Punchestown this week is going to be soft, the other is we are not going to be meeting Sizing Europe,” Hobbs told At The Races.