Racing: Brother for Stayers'?

Philip Hobbs today dropped a firm hint that Brother Joe, who has a handful of entries at the meeting, would tackle the Bonusprint Stayers’ Hurdle at next week’s Cheltenham Festival.

Brother Joe, owned by Sir Robert Ogden, also holds the Smurfit Champion Hurdle engagement, along with the Coral Eurobet Cup, but Hobbs said: ‘‘A final decision will be made by Mr Ogden but at this stage we are leaning towards running Brother Joe in the Stayers’ if the ground is good.’’

Hobbs is looking for a rise in the weights in order to saddle his novice Hard To Start in the Coral Cup. The gelding has 9st 4lb but there are doubts over the participation of several horses at the head of the weights.

Hobbs said: ‘‘If the weights go up we might be tempted to go the handicap route but Magnus controls everything and we’d also need horses like Copeland and Teaatral to defect in order for a weight rise.

‘‘Conversely if the ground came up good it would suit us more than several of the favourites in the SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle.’’

Hobbs outlined definite plans for Surprising, who is being pointed at the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Final, Wave Rock, who goes for the Grand Annual, and Rooster Booster and Fait Le Jojo who tackle the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle.