Did anybody hear the Philips Hobbs interview on ATR ?

He is really enjoying all this attention. Time to shut up now Hobbsy unless you have something new to say.

Hobbs quoted today in the Post when asked if WT may run in the RSA "With the ground drying up,we're possibly leaning that way"

It seems whatever quote you read or whatever soundbite you hear,the information is never the same.

He seems unhappy Mullins is getting most of the attention and has to get even on the multiple target shoyte.

Why make a decision before you have to? Going, opposition and jockey availability could all come into it.

It's mainly beacuse I quite facny Captain Chris for the Arkle and I suspect his price will ½ if it confirmed he goes for that. But you are probably right and given what others have pointed out not sure Hobbs would make the right decisino anyway.

It was in a RPost article last week when they were following Johnson around apparently Hobbs rang and said he was thinking the Arkle for them both when it became obvious he is taking the p1ss. Wishfull Thinking wasnt even in the Arkle that evening. Have no regard for this guy as a person though he is an excellent trainer of hurdlers.

The guy simply hasnt made his mind up yet where he's going to run them....

If he said one thing then changed his mind cos there's heavy rain or cos Time For Rupert does a leg then he would get dog's abuse for misleading us

He keeps getting asked and has to be polite in finding another way to see 'we still dont know. Sorry.' That's 100% fair enough in my book

The RPost is now 2 quid are they happy to print information (do they pay for these interviews as well?) that treats their paying customers as mugs?

I'm frustrated as I want to be with both CC and WT, but surely it's to our benefit that he does wait to pick the most suitable race for both?
Can't hide from anything at Cheltenham, so would be disappointed if WT went to the Jewson purely to dodge Time For Rupert but by the same token if it's a going issue then fair enough.
Either way, I don't pay the bills so WTF's it to do with me?

The only advice would be dont back him for the Arkle.....he will not line up simple as that.

You ought to be really worried about your Finians Rainbow bet mug.

A decision about which races Captain Chris and Wishfull Thinking will contest at next week's Cheltenham Festival will be left until the last minute.

Trainer Philip Hobbs has left both horses in the Jewson Novices' Chase, but Captain Chris also has an entry in the Arkle Challenge Trophy whilst Wishfull Thinking has an alternative engagement in the RSA Chase.

Speaking to At The Races, Hobbs said: "We're going to leave it until the last minute. We'll see if any of their rivals go by the wayside - whether it means that Captain Chris will run in the Arkle or Wishfull Thinking will run in the RSA Chase, I'm not sure.

"The problem is they'd both have a great chance in the Jewson but I suppose we might try to have two winners rather than one.

"My gut feeling is that Captain Chris needs two-and-a-half miles. I don't know if Wishfull Thinking will stay three miles and do we really want to take on Time For Rupert?"

Wishfull thinking is currently the general 9-2 favourite for the Jewson, whilst Captain Chris is around 11-2.



Jaysus like [smiley:crazy][smiley:crazy][smiley:crazy] he surely knows at this stage wat he's gonna run em in

the taking on TFR line is lame - there's a lot in the old adage,never be afraid of one horse, especially in a 3m + novice chase

Who is going to start the let's all laugh at Hobbs thread when he gets this miserably wrong and mixes it with Time For Rupert and several other classy guaranteed stayers?

..and Noble Prince tups Captain Chris the Jewson.

I think Hobbs tells you what you need to know about Captain Chris..."He's better right handed!" Reading between the lines I think he's trying to tell us he doesn't want to run him in either because he doesn't think he can win them! Owners decision perhaps!? If so, the Arkle!

i thought he was pretty straightforward, albeit very undecided. If its good ground Jewson (CC) RSA (WT), if its soft Arkle (CC) Jewson (WT). Either way they both wont end up in the Jewson (but one will definitely line-up there).

Marwood has probably summed it up just right. We had at least 6mm of rain in Somerset last night but no idea how much Cheltenham had. How can anyone second guess the going at this stage?

Thanks for the input everyone.  In the end I stuck with my convictions and backed Captain Chris at 18.0 in the Arkle and Wishfull Thinking at a very pleasing 10.0 in the Jewson (he went all the way to 14.0 at some stage yesterday).

Captain Chris is currently trading at 9.8 and Wishfull Thinking 4.8 so well pleased.  Now the difficult part they have to win.

Nice position but got a feeling Wishfull Thinking much more likely than Captain Chris.

I'm sure you may be right but stamina often comes into play and I wanted a live outsider to go with my main bet Ghizao for the Arkle.  The real bonus is price I got on Wishfull Thinking.

Captain Chris delivers and Wishfull Thinking to go .  It's fantastic when you get 18.0 on a winner with an SP of 6/1.

And Quevega

Thank god Hobbsy knows who to listen to on the forum.