Exclusive: Hobbs and White Eye Newbury Glory as Stable Stars Shine in Strong Start to the Season

Phillip Hobbs and Johnson White have enjoyed a fruitful start to the 24/25 campaign and confirm two of their exciting prospects will head to Newbury at the end of the month.

Imperial Saint was very impressive when last seen at Aintree, winning a valuable class 3 Handicap Chase by eight and a half lengths.

Ballee enjoyed success at the back end of 2023, winning two novice hurdles at Taunton. He didn’t carry that form into 2024, but ran a very good race at Aintree when finishing second on his penultimate start.

A novice chase campaign awaits, but Johnson White confirms he’ll have a prep run over hurdles in the coming week.

He said: “Ballee will head to Newbury in a week’s time in a hurdle race. He has schooled over fences and jumps very well, but the thinking is just give him a race over the smaller obstacles to get the fizz out of him. He can be quite forward going as we’ve seen on the racecourse before, but he is in great form.

“I was delighted with Imperial Saint at Aintree, and he’s come out the race really well. He’s gone up 10lbs which was sort of inevitable when you win the way he did, but he’ll go to Newbury at the end of the month for another two-mile handicap chase.“

One of the most taking performances of the season so far was that of French Ship at Chepstow in a maiden hurdle. 

This four-year-old is an exciting prospect for the team, but it is unclear where he will head next, with White providing a small update on him.

White said: “French Ship has come out of Chepstow really well and we were really pleased to get a win with him. He looks a really progressive horse, but I’m not sure where we will head next, it is likely we’ll get him back out on the track in the next few weeks.”

The team enjoyed success at Bangor-On-Dee with the loveable veteran Celebre D’Allen, who after being detached in the early part of the race, powered clear on his seasonal bow.

A return to Aintree could be on the cards for this 12-year-old, who has raced in the Topham Handicap Chase the last two renewals. 

An ecstatic White said: “He’s a joy to train, the owners are over the moon, and he is just a lovely horse to have in the yard. He took three quarters of a mile to get going and I was panicking slightly but he’s finished his race off really well and I’m delighted.”

It was nearly a double on the day for the team as the progressive Lowry’s Bar was narrowly defeated in the opening handicap chase, and his first time over fences and White was delighted with how he took to the larger obstacles.

He said: “I was really pleased with how he ran. I thought he jumped very nicely, while giving seven lbs to the winner and that horse also has chase experience as well so I think overall a very pleasing experience. I think he bumped into a very good horse.”