Hobbs Thrilled To Be Along For The Ride

Philip Hobbs has admitted Fair Along's seamless transition to fences has been a pleasant surprise.

The diminutive five-year-old chased home stablemate Detroit City in the Triumph Hurdle last year and Hobbs revealed he had expected him to struggle over the bigger obstacles due to his size.

'We didn't expect him to be favourite for the Arkle,' conceded the Minehead trainer.

'We couldn't have thought it because he is very small and we expected to struggle with his handicap mark over hurdles and there would have to be a serious doubt as to whether he would jump a fence,' he told At The Races.

'But he is extremely athletic and very genuine, he is a smashing little horse.

'He has an entry in the County Hurdle but the plan is the Arkle and he will run in that, all being well, and we will worry about the other things afterwards. I wouldn't totally rule it out though (running in both races).

'He needs a bit of graft before the Arkle, as you have to remember that his last run was in December and on purpose we decided then that there was no point in running him again as he had enough experience and he wouldn't really want the soft ground in January and February.

'He had a break for a few weeks not doing too much, just having a walk for a week or two and then cantering.

'We are now three weeks away so we are turning on the gas again, but he will need a few bits of serious work before then but we are very much on plan and on target.'

(C) PA Sport