Having first taken out a licence almost 40 years ago, Philip Hobbs is a staple of the British National Hunt game. No stranger to success at the top table, the 69-year-old handler has sent out 19 Cheltenham Festival winners, including stars such as Rooster Booster, Flagship Uberalles, and Defi Du Seuil.
2023 saw a change at Hobbs’ Somerset operation as long-time assistant Johnson White stepped up to become joint trainer. The 100+ winner and £1m+ prize money seasons of the past set a tough target for a yard which lacks the stars of years gone by. Nevertheless, the duo set a solid foundation in 2023/24 with just under £400,000 in total prize money.
Moving into 2024/25, Hobbs & White will look to build on that good work and have an intriguing 70-strong string at their disposal. Here, we pick out the leading lights and those runners who have taken up residence in our horse tracker for the season ahead.
Stable Stars
Imperial Saint
In a yard lacking an obvious Graded star, this son of Saint Des Saints may be amongst the most likely to pick up a valuable prize this term. Running in the colours of Champion Jockey Richard Johnson, he’s won two of his first three over fences and is now up to a mark of 138. Those chase wins came over 2m, but his peak hurdles form was at 2m4f. As such, he may improve further when stepped up in trip over the larger obstacles.
Five for the Horse Tracker
Hobbs & White lack a bona-fide Grade 1 star. However, they are already amongst the winners this season and well on course to beat last year’s total of 34. Hopefully, the following quintet will do their bit to keep the win-o-meter ticking over.
- Disguisedlimit – Snapped up for £150,000 following an impressive win in an Irish Point-to-Point in April. He was only third on his debut in a maiden hurdle at Chepstow but ruined his chance by running too free. He will need to learn to settle better, but he is in expert hands and looks like the sort to improve as the season progresses.
- Limier D’Arthel – A nine-length winner on the flat during his time with Emmanuel Clayeux in France, this 3yo now joins Hobbs to begin his National Hunt career and goes in the famous green and gold of JP McManus. By Cokoriko and out of a Dom Alco mare, he’s nicely bred for the job and rates the most promising youngster in the yard.
- Madaket – Joined the Hobbs & White operation in March 2023 and enjoyed a productive season over hurdles – winning twice and rising 18lbs in the handicap to a mark of 119. He tackles fences this term and may have a few pounds in hand off an opening chase mark of 118. He found himself on the back foot following a mistake at the first on his chase debut at Newbury but caught the eye when staying on late into third. If brushing up on his jumping, he should soon be in the winner’s enclosure.
- Oh My Johnny – Purchased for £56,000 following a fall at the last in an Irish Point-to-Point, Oh My Johnny has brought his errant jumping to Britain. Blowing his chance by jumping out to his right on yard debut in October, he repeated his final flight antics when travelling much the best at Bangor. Those issues need to be ironed out, but he has the engine to win races.
- Sober Glory – The form of this one’s Irish Point-to-Point win received a little boost when the runner-up won on his debut under rules at Market Rasen. Sober Glory then made a solid start, when staying on well through the soft ground to land his Bumper at Chepstow. Related to the yard’s Grade 1 winner, Fingal Bay, on the dam side, this four-year-old boasts a nice combination of pedigree and performance.
Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.
Paul Harrison
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