Weather key to Japan's Arkle bid

Philip Hobbs is keeping a close eye on the weather as he contemplates a crack at the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy with Made In Japan.

Successful in the Triumph Hurdle at the Festival 12 months ago, the five-year-old has won one of this three starts since switching to fences.

He is also entered in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual at Cheltenham and Hobbs, speaking on At The Races, said today: “The horse is in very good nick and we certainly plan to run him there.

“We think he is a better horse on good ground and we haven’t had it for some time. We’ve had him entered two or three times in the last couple of months but he hasn’t run.

“I think he’s probably better fresh in any case, so I’m not too bothered about him not having run for a while.

“The Arkle is very much a possibility, but he wants good ground. If it’s not good I suspect we will end up running Lacdoudal in the Arkle.

“I suppose we could run them both, but the ground will be all-important. We don’t know what the ground will be – it could go either way yet.”

Made In Japan won at the first time of asking over the bigger obstacles at Kempton in November, but has twice been a beaten favourite since.

“You couldn’t go there strongly fancying him on his disappointments this season,” Hobbs admitted.

“His jumping has been good, but after the real excitement of his first win at Kempton, which was really good, he has been disappointing, being realistic.

“There’s nothing wrong with him, he’s fine and I think it’s certainly worth having a go, providing he gets the ground.”

Hobbs also had news of Aon and Racing Post Chase winner Farmer Jack, who is entered in the Daily Telegraph Trophy, but who has a big race at Aintree as his main target.

“I suppose if he’s going to be favourite he’ll run, if he’s not then I think we might be hindering his chance at Aintree by going to Cheltenham on a course which probably doesn’t suit him quite so well,” he said.

“I wouldn’t want to blow his Aintree chance by running if we don’t think he’s got a very strong chance at Cheltenham.”