CHELTENHAM NEWS

 17 February 2021 15:46 Conditions key to Sporting John’s Festival run

Philip Hobbs says ground conditions will dictate which route Sporting John takes at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

The JP McManus-owned six-year-old holds two entries at the Festival after Hobbs opted to take him out of the running for the Arkle Novices’ Chase, with the Marsh Novices’ Chase over 2m4f and the three-mile Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase both remaining valid options.

Indeed, Hobbs has confirmed that conditions at Prestbury Park will ultimately decide what route he chooses to take Sporting John down.

“We’ve taken Sporting John out of the Arkle and he will either now run in the Marsh or what was the RSA. It will all depend on what the ground conditions are like,” Hobbs was quoted as saying by Racing TV.

“If the ground was very soft you would stick to two and a half in the Marsh but if it wasn’t you would probably look at going further with him.”

Sporting John finished well down the field in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Festival, but he made a successful return to Grade One company when winning the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown earlier this month.

Hobbs believes that victory shows the son of Getaway is returning towards his best form.

The trainer added: “It was obviously very pleasing to see him win like he did and warm to the task at Sandown as it shows he is going in the right direction.”

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