Hobbs upbeat about Fingal’s Hennessy raid
Hobbs last took the price way back in 2001 when What’s Up Boys touched off Behrajan but he has had this race as a target for Fingal Bay for some time.
After his novice chase season was cut short by injury, Hobbs brought him back to top form to win the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham last season and while he does not think his hope has been given an easy task by the handicapper, he still feels there is room for manoeuvre.
“He’s in very good order and he is just a high-class horse. To win a race off top weight at the Cheltenham Festival proved that,” said Hobbs.
“This has been the target for a long time and I haven’t even looked at the other entries, so I can’t say who I fear at this stage.
“I don’t think the handicapper has been particularly lenient, but he’s on a workable mark.
“I’m not in the slightest bit concerned about the ground. Soft would be grand and although you never really want heavy, he would cope with it better than most.”
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has left in three at the five-day stage but his main chance looks to be last year’s runner-up Rocky Creek.
He also finished fifth in the Grand National last season and was second in Road To Riches on his comeback in Grade One company at Down Royal.
Nicholls could also run Black Thunder and Unioniste.
He said: “Rocky Creek has done well since Down Royal and the run certainly won’t be lost on him. He’ll improve again and the soft ground will be ideal.
“He ran very well in the Hennessy last year and has strengthened up since then. He had some good Grade One form last season, but he was quite difficult to get right at times.”
