Hobbs happy with Gold hopes

Philip Hobbs has confirmed his totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hopefuls on target for the feature race of the Cheltenham Festival, which gets underway on Tuesday.

Both second favourite Monkerhostin and 2003 Royal & SunAlliance Chase winner One Knight are set to take their chance for the Minehead trainer.

And according to Hobbs, his chance is covered whatever the weather.

“Monkerhostin definitely wants good ground and while it’s not so much a positive for One Knight if it’s soft, it just might slow some of the others down,” he told At The Races.

Monkerhostin sprung to prominence in the Gold Cup market after a gallant second to Kicking King in the King George at Sandown on Boxing Day. He is currently 5-1 joint favourite in some lists.

“The Ryanair Chase could have been a possibility if he hadn’t run so well in the King George but with him staying on so well at Sandown the Gold Cup was the obvious race to aim him at,” Hobbs said.

“Some horses have been able to show the same level of form over shorter trips and then go on and run well in the Gold Cup. Look at Desert Orchid. I know he was the exception to the rule but Monkerhostin has only been over three miles twice and both times he stayed on well.”

Soft ground is also a concern for Hobbs’ JCB Triumph Hurdle hopeful Detroit City, also a 5-1 chance.

“He’s improved with every run over hurdles and we’ll be hoping that he improves again in the Triumph,” said Hobbs.

“I don’t think he’d want it too soft though, when he made his debut at Warwick it was soft and he disappointed. Having said that he ran his best race on the Flat at Newmarket when there was some cut.

“I go there with some really good chances next week. I think Zabenz has a really good each-way chance in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase and 14-1 is a big price for him.”