Hobbs Hoping For Novice Success

Philip Hobbs goes into Cheltenham without a big-race favourite and the trainer is relying on his novice hurdlers to provide some Festival cheer.

Hobbs confirmed Snap Tie will take his chance in the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices´ Hurdle and suggests the Ballymore Properties Novices´ Hurdle is the favoured option for County Zen.

He said: "Snap Tie is proven at the course and has come back well after a mid-season break, in which I´ve freshened him up.

"County Zen has been consistent and has multiple entries but at the moment I´m favouring the Ballymore over the Supreme for him.

"However, if the ground did happen to come up soft, I might well have a rethink and go for the shorter race."

Hobbs admits rain would be a concern for Snap Tie, adding: "He´s not a horse that wants soft ground. He´s very well in himself and is in a group of horses who are 12-1 or 14-1 that could go and win it (the Supreme)."

Hobbs saddles one member of his Cheltenham team, Cryptic, in Saturday´s Connaught plc "National Hunt" Novices´ Hurdle at Newbury.

"We´ll see how he gets on at Newbury with a view to then running in the Pertemps Final or, failing that, the three-mile novice hurdle (Albert Bartlett). He´s 1lb out of the handicap in the Pertemps," Hobbs said.

Last season´s Arkle runner-up Fair Along is to tackle the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase, while Ring The Boss heads for the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy.

John Smith´s Grand National hope Parsons Legacy is being targeted at the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase, while Monkerhostin will return from a break in the William Hill Trophy.

(C) PA Sport