Magical City Triumphs

Detroit City led home a Philip Hobbs one-two in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham to land an ante-post gamble in the juvenile championship.

The grey and roan gelding had been available at 12-1 after he won at Sandown last month and had been 'a steady climber' with William Hill in the Triumph market ever since.

On the day was he heavily backed from 9-2 into 7-2 favourite and Hobbs admitted he was 'more than hopeful he would win'.

He justified the support and stable confidence in style. The winner's stable companion Fair Along took the field along at a rare clip in the two-mile test chased by Detroit City, Turko and Afsoun.

Detroit City looked to be struggling at around halfway but Richard Johnson kept pushing away and he was soon back on the heels of the leaders.

Afsoun briefly looked a big threat but dropped away at the top of the hill and from after three out it was left to Fair Along and Detroit City to fight it out but it was not until the final flight that the latter collared the leader.

However, once on the run-in Detroit City proved in a different class and stormed away to win by five lengths from Fair Along (25-1), who gamely held on to second by a length from Blazing Bailey (14-1).

'I was very surprised Fair Along was ever 25-1 because he's got some of the best form against the others. Anyway, we thought he had a squeak but obviously Detroit City was the more fancied of the two,' said Hobbs after greeting his second Triumph Hurdle winner following Made In Japan two years ago.

'I think the visor helped Detroit City as although he's a very genuine horse he does badly need further than two miles and he was outpaced in the middle of the race. Richard really had to stoke him up.

'Fair Along probably did set the race up for him. It wasn't the intention to have Fair Along as a pacemaker for him but it worked that way and probably helped Detroit City.

'In the Triumph they go very quick and he needed something to sharpen him up a bit and the visor worked well. I was more than hopeful he would win.'

Detroit City carried the colours of Terry Warner and the victory evoked memories of the late Rooster Booster, a grey who won the 2003 Champion Hurdle for the owner and Hobbs.

But according to the trainer the colouring of the two horses is where the comparison ends.

He said: 'He's a total opposite to Rooster Booster.

'Detroit City is very laid back and will be running over three miles before very long while you needed a very strong man to hold Rooster Booster once he was cantering and he was very quick and didn't want more than two miles and this horse is a lot heavier than Rooster ? they are completely different.'

Detroit City's future clearly lies over longer distances.

Hobbs continued: 'I think next year Detroit City is more likely to go for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle rather than the Champion.

'It's a long way off but I can't see him being quick enough for the Champion Hurdle, the World Hurdle would be much more likely but he might even go novice chasing.

'Fair Along will definitely go to Aintree that would suit him well ? it's the ideal place for him, a sharp track.

'Detroit City could quite possibly go for a two-and-a-half-miler at Punchestown but he's a tough horse and sound so I'd probably like to run him before Punchestown if I could.

'There's a possibility he could go back on the Flat ? I wouldn't rule it out a long-distance handicap or something.'

Johnson added: 'He's been very brave and he's never stopped trying for me and he just outstayed them from two out.

'I couldn't believe Fair Along was unfancied because he had very solid form and this better ground would suit him.

'I was concerned I may not catch him after two out but the one thing my fellow does is stay and he really puts his best in at the end so when he gets a bit further he'll be an even better horse.

'What you need is a horse who tries and this horse really tries for you.'

Detroit City is 12-1 with William Hill for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle back at Cheltenham next March.

? PA Sport