Philip Hobbs - a trainer to watch?

Since recording 100 plus winner score in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons the Hobbs yard has failed to top the century mark in the past two seasons, recording an identical number of winners on each occasion – 86. With a 100 plus stable strength this year there is every hope that Hobbs will be able to return to a century of winners again.

Heading a strong team will be Cheltenham and Punchestown Festival winner Captain Chris – he ended last season by taking the Arkle at Cheltenham and then the Ryanair Novice Chase and he's been an admirably consistent horse throughout his career so far, only finishing out of the frame twice in an 11 races. It looks as though he'll start his campaign in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter before stepping up in class and distance for the King George at Kempton. Fans of racing betting will be keeping an eye on him.

The chasing strength at the stable is augmented by Wishfull Thinking who ran well at Cheltenham but found glory in a Grade 2 chase at Aintree before also scoring at Punchestown. He could return to Aintree for his seasonal debut in the Old Roan Chase and he looks a really versatile horse especially in trip for the yard this year.One horse who was hurdling last year but will have his attentions switched to chasing this season is Menorah – he progressed over the smaller obstacles last year but in the end he just had a rear view of Hurricane Fly at both Cheltenham and Punchestown in the big events. He has very much the make and shape of a chaser and the larger obstacles could well be the making of him. Those looking for horse racing betting tips should bear this in mind.

The Hobbs yard has plenty of other chasing talent under its roof in Quinz who won the Racing Post Trophy last season and with Kilcrea Kim who will now go novice chasing. That's not to say that the novice hurdlers will be forgotten and former bumper winners – Fingal Bay, Persian Snow and Kartanian – all have the potential to be very useful over the smaller obstacles.

With there being plenty of strength in depth in the yard we expect Philip Hobbs to once again top the 100 winner mark in the 2010-11 National Hunt season.