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Sporting John, a lightly-raced six-year-old, came from way off the pace to win the Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown this month on just his second start over fences, beating Kauto Star Novices' Chase winner Shan Blue by three and three-quarter lengths.
Hobbs, who has been left with a choice of taking on Monkfish over three miles or Envoi Allen over two miles and five furlongs in the Marsh Novices' Chase next month, said: “I think it’s far more likely that he will run in the three-miler (Brown Advisory) – although we still have the option of the Marsh.
“But I think unless it is very deep ground he will go for the longer race.
“He got better and better as the race went on at Sandown – and as it was only his second run over fences, you can understand that a lot of it was through greenness. But in the end he won quite comfortably.”
Hobbs’s stable star Thyme Hill was slightly unlucky in last year’s Albert Bartlett behind Monkfish and was beaten only narrowly by Paisley Park last time out, having got the better of Emma Lavelle’s popular hurdler at Newbury earlier in the season.
The pair are set for another mouth-watering clash in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle.
Hobbs said: “With Thyme Hill, he is bang on course for the Stayers’ Hurdle and won’t run before it.
“He’s in good form – and ground-wise with him, it really doesn’t make any difference.”
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