Hot To Trot: Hobbs has his team in fine fettle

Jumps: Philip Hobbs

Philip Hobbs was responsible for the first winner of the new year, sending out Deise Aba to win a two-runner contest at Catterick, and he has started as he means to go on.

He also has some top prospects to look forward to, most notably Defi du Seuil and Challow Hurdle winner Thyme Hill.

Watch back:

Still unbeaten over hurdles, Thyme Hill wins the Betway Challow Novices' Hurdle at @NewburyRacing #ITVRacing pic.twitter.com/5xBoNDzg73

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) December 29, 2019

Thyme Hill confirmed his status as Britain's leading staying novice hurdler with a cosy success at Newbury last Saturday and he would be a leading contender for either the Ballymore or the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Hobbs also has plenty to look forward to in the short-term, with Dolphin Square of particular interest if taking up his engagement at Ludlow on Wednesday.

Dolphin Square was successful in two of his three novice hurdles and showed he is on a fair handicap mark by finishing a close-up fourth at Newbury last time, despite coming from further back than ideal.

Dolphin Square is owned by David Maxwell, who has purchased winning hurdler For Langy for €150,000 and has sent him to Hobbs. He is an interesting addition to the yard and could make his debut for the stable at Taunton on Tuesday.

Others to watch out for this week include Earth Moor, who won a bumper at Fontwell and struck on his hurdles debut at Exeter, and Masters Legacy, who got off the mark at the second attempt at Taunton last time and will benefit from stepping up in trip if taking up an engagement at the same track on Tuesday.

Flat: Karl Burke

Karl Burke has his string in good form and has struck four times since Christmas. All four successes have come at Southwell, and it is a track at which Burke has enjoyed notable success, sending out more winners there in the last five years than at any other course.

Angel Lane was impressive at Southwell on New Year's Day, seeing things out well under a positive ride, and she is compiling an excellent record on Fibresand, now successful on two of her four starts at the course and placed on the other two occasions. She could be turned out quickly at the same venue on Tuesday and would have an obvious chance.

Raydiance has had plenty of racing, but not much on the all-weather and he's relatively unexposed on artificial surfaces. He backed up a good effort at Newcastle by making a successful Fibresand debut at Southwell on New Year's Day and could bid to follow up under a penalty at Newcastle on Wednesday.

Another to note at Newcastle on Wednesday is Hareem Queen, who failed to complete the hat-trick at Southwell last time but ran right up to her best and still appears to be ahead of her mark. Her rapid improvement coincided with the switch to Fibresand, so she needs to prove she is as effective on Tapeta, but she is young, improving and well handicapped so of clear interest.

Under The Radar: Sandy Thomson

Sandy Thomson had a quiet November, winning only once during the month and not sending out a runner between the 14th and the 26th inclusive. However, things were a lot busier during December and the trainer sent out five winners - which equals his most successful month. He also had two horses finish runner-up and another four finish third, highlighting the good health of the yard, and he has some interesting entries next week.

McGowan's Pass had a disappointing and truncated campaign last season but he's been dropped slightly in the weights and, based on the ability he showed in bumpers, is not one to dismiss in a handicap. He runs at Ayr on Monday.

On the same card it's also worth noting Deluxe Range in the bumper as he is a brother to the fairly useful chaser Kupatana and offered something to work with when finishing in mid-division on debut.