Hobbs Hill's reputation grows

English Racing/Ascot report:Hobbs Hill's stellar reputation shines a little brighter following his poignant victory in the BGC Noel Novices' Chase at Ascot yesteday.

Charlie Egerton's gelding made it four wins from as many starts over fences in the pink and green silks of Peter Orton, who died earlier this month.

And while Hobbs Hill remains at the top of the tree in his division, Egerton's favoured plan at this stage is to take on more experienced horses in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in the spring - if he travels to the meeting at all.

That Ascot actually raced was something of a bonus with course officials pessimistic they would beat the morning inspection.

The fixture went ahead, but Hobbs Hill's opposition in the Grade Two event was weakened by the defection of Barbers Shop and he was sent off at 2 to 11 against three rivals.

Tony McCoy sent his mount off in front as usual and although Battlecry was a brief threat turning for home, Hobbs Hill kicked right away and was eased-down to score by eight lengths.

"I want him to stay at two and a half miles and I will probably give him a break now and bring him back for the Scilly Isles (at Sandown in February)," reported Egerton. "We will see what happens after that. I will bypass the SunAlliance and at the moment the Ryanair Chase is the favourite.

"He is such a big horse with a high cruising speed and I don't think the Arkle would suit him. The old Cathcart would have been the ideal race really. He could miss Cheltenham, as there is Aintree and Punchestown."

Cashmans offer 8 to 1 for the Ryanair next March.

Evan Williams is a trainer not often short of a soundbite but the congenial Welshman was struggling to contain himself following Deep Purple's five-timer in the Mitie Kennel Gate Novices' Hurdle. He, too, was returned a short-priced favourite at 4 to 6 when Song Of Songs was withdrawn and produced another master class from the front.

Although Willie Pep eventually cut the margin down to two and a half lengths, Paul Moloney just had to keep him up to his work.

"You wouldn't not enter him in the Champion Hurdle - where there could only be 10 runners - as well as the Supreme Novices'," said owner Paul Green, winner of the blue riband event with Hors La Loi III in 2003. I'm not saying he'll run as Evan will make that decision." VC Bet introduced Deep Purple at 66 to 1 for the Champion and 33s for the Supreme. Coral go 20 to 1 for the latter event.

Williams added: "You know me, I get excited about a seller but I don't say I have got a serious horse unless I have. I said I did with (Hennessy winner) State Of Play and I am just starting to get the same signs with this horse.

"The dream is still alive. I think he wants a stiffly-run two miles and I think we might look at the Tolworth Hurdle now as that would suit him."

Brendan Powell's former point-to-pointer Dr Hart readily got off the mark under Rules as the 3 to 1 joint-favourite in the Landsbanki "National Hunt" Maiden Hurdle.

The success was the first for Timmy Murphy since his return from a lengthy ban and Dr Hart quickly settled a battle with Pantalaimon, who also took second in this event last year.

"When I got him, I thought he might be one for the four-miler at Cheltenham and he's run in lots of points in Ireland," said Powell.