Hobbs stays positive with Thinking

Philip Hobbs believes Wishfull Thinking will not lack for pace when he drops in distance for the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

The eight-year-old has been campaigned exclusively at around two and a half miles, both over hurdles and fences, and was sixth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on his latest start.

“He has always shown loads of pace,” the Minehead trainer told At The Races.

“It’s a bit of an experiment, really. Before Cheltenham last year we were even thinking of going three miles.

“Sometimes the better these horses are, the more adaptable they are in trip. It’s trying to find out which is his best trip.

“He won’t be done for pace in the Tingle Creek. He’s very quick.

“He obviously stays two and a half, sometimes that’s a plus.”

David Pipe’s two Tingle Creek entries, Dan Breen and I’msingingtheblues, are both likely to be outsiders should they take their chance.

“They’re in the Tingle Creek. Obviously they have to improve a lot on form, even though they are very good horses,” said the Nicholashayne trainer.

“It will be a small field, but they are not definite runners yet.

“We’ve got to talk it through with their owners, but it’s dry ground there.

“Both will like the ground and there’s a lot of prize-money on offer.”

Finian’s Rainbow would have been one of the most interesting contenders in the race, but trainer Nicky Henderson has announced his charge will not be running.

The eight-year-old finished second in the Arkle last term before going on to win the Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree and this would have been his first start in full company.

However, Henderson confirmed: “I worked him this morning and he’s not going to run at the weekend.

“He’s just not quite ready, and we might wait for the Desert Orchid at Kempton.”

Following news of Finian’s Rainbow’s absence, William Hill make Sizing Europe their 13-8 favourite ahead of Tataniano at 5-2.