Not just Wishfull Thinking as Hobbs and Johnson eye glory

Wishfull Thinking was something of a revelation last season for Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson and he holds a leading chance in today’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Since falling on his chasing debut at Aintree last October, he has not finished outside the first two over fences. He was second at the Festival in the Jewson, won a Grade Two at Aintree and defied a welter burden at Punchestown.

“He’s schooled the last few weeks and seems very well and we’re very happy with him,” said Johnson. “He’s obviously got a big weight to carry and as he had such a fantastic year last year he begins off such a high handicap mark. Hopefully, if he can reproduce his run in the Punchestown handicap, that should give him every chance. He’s summered very well and they’ve all been very happy with him and his schooling has been very good. It’s fingers crossed that he can pick up where he left off last season. There are usually some unexposed ones in there, last season they might have had problems and they could be improvers. Sometimes afterwards it’s easy looking at it saying no wonder they won off such a low mark. But Philip couldn’t be happier with him and hopefully he’ll run a very big race.”

The favourite is Mon Parrain and champion trainer Paul Nicholls believes he has the right horse to finally fill a glaring omission from his glittering CV.

The Paddy Power, along with the Grand National and Champion Hurdle, are the only major prizes to have eluded Nicholls, who also saddles top-weight Poquelin and Aerial. Nicholls has sent out plenty of fancied runners in the first major handicap of the season, but in Mon Parrain he has a young, unexposed and seemingly well-handicapped contender who has headed the ante-post market since betting opened. “He’s in good order. I took him to Exeter last week for a gallop [with Kauto Star and Big Buck’s] as everybody knows and I’m very happy with him,” said Nicholls. “He hasn’t had a breathing operation. He’s never had any issues with his breathing. The only reason I took him to Exeter last week to give him a gallop is because he’s been slow coming to hand and I had a few little niggly things with him earlier in the year. They were nothing much, but I just felt we were running out of time with him so I thought I’d give him a racecourse gallop to make sure he’s right for the weekend.”

The trainer with the best recent record in the race is Nigel Twiston-Davies, who has won two of the last three renewals with Imperial Commander and Little Josh. This year he runs Billie Magern and Swincombe Rock, both considered outsiders by the bookies. “Both have got good chances after running well on their first starts this season. I fancy their chances equally,” said the Gloucestershire handler.

“Billie Magern jumps very well, is very accurate and likes the course, while Swincombe Rock had some back problems last year but those are behind him now and I hope he will improve a lot for his first run.”

Meanwhile, trainer Gordon Elliott is expecting another good run from Chicago Grey at Cheltenham ahead of the Coral Welsh National next month.

The eight-year-old looked set for a good campaign when finishing third behind Weird Al in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby two weeks ago. Winner of the four-mile National Hunt Chase at this year’s Festival, he returns to Cheltenham for the Rewards4Racing Handicap Chase before being prepared for the Chepstow marathon on 27 December. “He’s in good form and he’s very well, but there’s not a lot for him before the Welsh National,” said Elliott. “He’s going to run in this, then have a break and then go to Chepstow. He’s won at Cheltenham before so hopefully he’ll run well.”