Hobbs and Johnson dominate at Cheltenham Garde La Victoire gave trainer Philip Hobbs and jockey Richard Johnson a sixth winner at Cheltenham's three-day Open meeting when making all in the Greatwood Hurdle. With no jockey willing to commit at the start, Johnson allowed Garde La Victoire (10-1) to set off in front, with only Pearl Swan going with him. It proved to be a wise and decisive move, as Garde La Victoire had enough in reserve to see off top-weight and 7-2 favourite Vaniteux by a length and a quarter, with Irish raider Clondaw Warrior another three-quarters of a length back in third. Johnson said: "It's amazing. To come there thinking you might have one winner is great and anything more than that is a bonus. "We thought he'd run really well. He was growing last season, maybe he's improved a bit and I don't think he's finished improving yet." Hobbs added: "He was just a little bit keen early on and then he settled and jumped beautifully. I think he would have won at Aintree the other day except for his jumping. "He'll stay over hurdles this season. He's only five, so I think we'll do that. The fact that he settled better helped his overall performance. "He's 20lb off being a Champion Hurdle horse, but I can't remember having six winners at any big meeting so we'll enjoy it while it lasts." He added of his fine run: "Realistically it's the whole team at home. Without the staff at home nothing happens. "We probably haven't got the ammunition as some of those going for the trainers' title, but winning these big prizes certainly helps." Nicky Henderson said of Vaniteux: "He ran a good race, a lot of our horses will come on for it and Philip is absolutely red hot at the moment."
