Trainer Philip Hobbs says that the impressive Thyme Hill, will go to Ascot next for his Cheltenham Festival preparation. He is currently the shortest-priced British-trained horse in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.
The Grade One-winning hurdler quelled the fears over his jumping last Monday, when winning the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton by 15 lengths.
Thyme Hill is best-priced 10-1 to land the 3 mile contest which would be a second victory forPhilip Hobbs, after One Knight’s win in 2003. However, it should be a very competitive affair with recent top-level winners Gaillard Du Mesnil and Gerri Colombe at the top of the market at 8-1.
“He’s come out of the race well,” said Hobbs. “I presume we’ll be looking at a race like the Reynoldstown next for him before we think about Cheltenham.”
Hobbs thinks the testing conditions at Kempton suited his runner, who reversed Newbury form with McFabulous, and will now target the race O’Faolains Boy won before going on to land the Brown Advisory in 2014.
Hobbs said: “I think it was a combination of the cheekpieces, soft ground and a strong pace which saw him improve.”
The victory was a third at the top level and second over fences for Thyme Hill. Thyme Hill started chasing at the relatively late age of eight.
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