Hobbs: Soft Ground Would Ruin Monk Chance

Philip Hobbs has issued a soft ground warning about his totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Monkerhostin, who is disputing favouritism with Beef Or Salmon at 5-1 with the sponsors.

The nine-year-old emerged as an unlikely market leader for the blue riband when failing by just a neck to catch Kicking King in the Stan James King George VI Chase on St Stephen's Day. He will be accompanied to post by stablemate One Knight.

However, Hobbs is fearful of testing conditions for Monkerhostin and speaking at his press day, he said: 'On good ground I would fancy Monkerhostin better than One Knight, but if the ground came up soft it would be a major disaster and Monkerhostin would have no chance.'

Soft ground is a rarity at Cheltenham in March, however, and Hobbs believes Monkerhostin to be worthy of his position at the forefront of the Gold Cup market.

'At the beginning of the season when he won at Exeter, I was half-thinking about taking the Queen Mother route with him and running him in the Gold Cup was the last thing on my mind,' he said.

'But since the King George it's been clear that he stays and in that race I think he would have beaten Kicking King in another 100 yards.

'My horse has had a bit of a break since Sandown and the fact that he missed Aon when Newbury was called off is not a concern. He's been in very good order and I can't wait to take him to Cheltenham.'

One Knight is to be partnered by Paddy Brennan in the Gold Cup, with Richard Johnson electing to side with Monkerhostin.

The former has been accident prone over the last two or three years, but Brennan got some good jumps out of him before his last-fence fall in the Coral Welsh National when looking held by L'Aventure.

? PA Sport