Menorah, winner of the 2010 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, is one of a significant number of Cheltenham Festival contenders who will line up without a previous outing in 2011, and he has done so well since winning the International Hurdle in early December that Hobbs has already accelerated his exercise programme with just under five weeks left until the Champion Hurdle on the first day of the Festival meeting.
"He worked brilliantly this morning," Hobbs said. "We've stepped up his work earlier than anticipated due to the fact that he's put on a bit of condition having had an easy time in December. That is a good fault as I'd much rather have him that way so that we can now work him hard and get him fitter and better.
"I couldn't be more happy with him and I think there's still room for improvement but this is surely one of the best Champion Hurdles we've had for some time. Menorah is one of those few horses where there's no faults. He's got the most fantastic temperament, he works well and enjoys his work on a daily basis.
"He's still a potential improver and the worst situation, which isn't too bad, is that he gets beaten in the Champion Hurdle and then we go novice chasing next year."
The six-year-old is one of the horses included in a treble in our ante-post Cheltenham Festival tips this year and is best-price 5/1 (888sport and Paddy Power) for the Champion Hurdle.
Alternatively he can be backed at 9/2 with race sponsors Stan James who are currently offering four places instead of three for each-way backers (offer ends at noon on 28th February).
When asked to single out a rival he fears most Hobbs added: "They are all potentially very good but if I had to have one not to run against in the Champion Hurdle I suppose it would be Peddler's Cross."
Champion Hurdle leading contender best-price odds:
This table displays the current best-price available for each horse with odds updated in real-time. To claim a free bet from any of these bookmakers click the links below:
Bet365 £200 free bet | Skybet £35 free bet | Will Hill £25 free bet | 888sport £25 free bet Victor Chandler £25 free bet | Stan James £25 free bet | Paddy Power £50 free bet Sportingbet £50 free bet | Ladbrokes £25 free bet | totesport £10 free bet
Hobbs also revealed that would not be against running his classy duo Captain Chris and Wishfull Thinking against each other in the new Jewson Novices' Chase at the Festival.
Captain Chris filled the runner-up spot for the third successive time when narrowly held by Medermit at Sandown on Saturday, while Wishfull Thinking impressed in a Cheltenham handicap on his latest start.
"We wouldn't mind running the two in the same race and I think the fact that they're in the same ownership actually makes it easier," said Hobbs.
"What you don't want in any race really is to finish first and second with different owners, so that the second owner is beaten by his own stable.
"I think it's going to have to be very soft to run Captain Chris in the Arkle, but Richard Johnson (jockey) probably disagrees with me as he thinks he could be equally effective in either race.
"I'm learning towards the two-and-a-half-mile race (Jewson) for Captain Chris and if the ground was good, Wishfull Thinking would go for the RSA. But if it's soft, he would run in the Jewson as well."
Hobbs has no intention of trying Captain Chris at a lesser level in order to get his head in front as he is quite happy for him to remain a novice for next season if that is how things pan out.
The trainer continued: "We decided a while ago that we're only going to run Captain Chris in these high-class novice chases. We could have gone for an ordinary novice chase somewhere rather than run in the Scilly Isles on Saturday and he would have won.
"But he only had his first race a year ago and he'd probably be the best novice chaser in the country next season if he's still a novice. If he doesn't win a race this year, he doesn't - but I hope he's got a very good chance at Cheltenham.
"He had the breathing operation early in December and he might have just lacked fitness at Newbury when he was second. He might run in the Pendil Novices' Chase at Kempton (February 26)."
Jewson Novices' Chase leading contender best-prices:
RSA Chase leading contender best-prices:
These tables display the current best-price available for each horse with odds updated in real-time. To claim a free bet from any of these bookmakers click the links below:
Bet365 £200 free bet | Skybet £35 free bet | Will Hill £25 free bet | 888sport £25 free bet Victor Chandler £25 free bet | Stan James £25 free bet | Paddy Power £50 free bet Sportingbet £50 free bet | Ladbrokes £25 free bet | totesport £10 free bet
For all the latest bookmakers free bets & Cheltenham Festival special offers click here.
Trainer Philip Hobbs is very pleased with the progress being made by his Champion Hurdle hope Menorah
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