Detroit Primed In Splendid Isolation

Philip Hobbs has taken no chances with the health of Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle favourite Detroit City, who is stabled separately from the rest of his yard ? despite sparkling in his last big workout on Tuesday morning.

There is only a week until the grey, a 9-4 shot with Blue Square, takes on the wealth of Irish hurdling talent.

And along with Fair Along, Liberate and Boychuk, Detroit City has been kept in a box a field away from the main North Somerset complex.

This is to prevent the spread of coughing that affected some of the string earlier this year but seems largely over now.

'We put them in isolation two weeks ago,' explained Hobbs.

'It's not really something we have done before, although when you get coughing you normally try to keep the horses in areas where the others are healthy.

'It's impossible though, really. You have staff and bits and pieces moving around and while you can try to keep things antiseptic, it is difficult.

'The coughing was at its worst in mid-January but I think we are nearly out of it and thankfully the main ones have not been affected.'

Detroit City looked a picture of health having won all his three jumping starts this season, the latest when holding off Straw Bear in the Agfa Hurdle at Sandown last month.

'He and Fair Along did their last serious piece of work this morning, which went very well,' reported Hobbs.

'He's very well and he's now 10 kilos lighter than he was at Sandown.

'It was the plan to do this and hopefully he will be fitter and better for it. The racecourse gallop he did at Exeter last week will have put him spot-on.

'He could do with the ground drying up a bit and hopefully it will be soft or good to soft next week, but he should handle it.

'He's got a favourite's chance. He's very laid back and wouldn't be the best worker by a long way.

'I had no idea when I first got him how good he would be. He also ran terribly on his first run at Warwick, but that was a mystery as he has not been beaten since.'

Also a winner of the JCB Triumph Hurdle last season ahead of Fair Along, Detroit City collected a rare Flat victory for Hobbs in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket in October.

While not ruling out a return on the level, his trainer also raised the possibility of an attempt at chasing at some point.

'I can't think he will be a horse kept going 12 months of the year,' added Hobbs.

'I suppose you could run at Royal Ascot or the Cesarewitch again but knowing his owner (Terry Warner) he wouldn't be campaigned on the Flat to the detriment of his jumping career.

'I've not schooled him over fences but he does jump very accurately.

'He could go novice chasing next season but if he won the Champion Hurdle this year, he'd be more likely to do that again.'

(C) PA Sport