Hobbs and White continue flourishing partnership with Taunton treble

Philip Hobbs and Johnson White continue to enjoy a resurgent season and were on the mark with three nice prospects at Taunton.

Having had 34 winners in their first campaign as a training partnership last term, they have almost surpassed that figure – with the four busiest months of the season still to come..

Tom Doniphon (4-6 favourite) and French Ship (4-11 favourite) were both partnered by Micheal Nolan, while Sean Houlihan was on The Hardest Geezer (5-4 favourite), who sported the same Gwent Holdings colours of Tom Doniphon.

French Ship got the ball rolling in the opening Foresters Garden Buildings Novices’ Hurdle and having finished within hailing distance of subsequent Challow winner The New Lion last time out, all eyes were on  him.

His jumping left a little to be desired early on, but he warmed to the task and beat Thistle Be The One by three and a half lengths.

“French Ship is very progressive, but he’s been a slow learner through his bumpers and so far over hurdles,” said White.

“He’ll have learned a lot today, his jumping still wasn’t great but he’ll come on for that.

“We’ve no particular big plans at the moment, just to continue his education, but he’d very much going in the right direction. The further he went, the better he got.”

The Hardest Geezer was well supported ahead of the Foresters Garden Buildings Novices’ Hurdle and it proved well placed.

“He was keen enough and he needs the education, he was a little bit keen when he hit the front,” said White.

“When he learns to settle and race properly he’ll be a nice horse, probably over further and fences in time.”

Tom Doniphon definitely achieved the most of the three on this occasion, seeing off Paul Nicholls’ dual winner Sorceleur by four and a half lengths in the Stables Business Park Handicap Hurdle, just eight days after his previous win.

“He’s probably not the horse you’d like to race a week after, but we thought the 7lb pull he got was too enticing (ran off his old mark),” said White.

“He’s very straightforward, again he’ll get further and will be a lovely chaser next year.

“I don’t think we’ll be getting too far ahead of ourselves mentioning the spring because at this stage I don’t think they are ready for them, but they will be in time once they have continued their education.”