Philip Hobbs
Far better known as a successful trainer with more than 3,000 winners to his credit, Philip John Hobbs also rode 160 winners over jumps before turning his attention to training.
Far better known as a successful trainer with more than 3,000 winners to his credit, Philip John Hobbs also rode 160 winners over jumps before turning his attention to training.
The elder brother of jump jockey Peter Hobbs, Philip was born at Bridgwater on July 26, 1955. Raised on his family’s farm with homebred racehorses which his father trained, he was soon in the saddle. He competed with his Pony Club team in the Prince Philip Games and took so well to showjumping that he was later to compete successfully at Hickstead.
The elder brother of jump jockey Peter Hobbs, Philip was born at Bridgwater on July 26, 1955. Raised on his family’s farm with homebred racehorses which his father trained, he was soon in the saddle. He competed with his Pony Club team in the Prince Philip Games and took so well to showjumping that he was later to compete successfully at Hickstead.
He started his racing career in point-to-points and as an amateur and rode his first winner on 7-2 chance Redders Boy, trained by his father Tony, in the Pat Ruthven and Guy Nixon Memorial Vase Hunters’ Chase at Wincanton on Easter Monday, April 15, 1974. Redders Boy passed the post in second place, beaten two lengths by the odds-on favourite Forest Rock, but the stewards disqualified the winner for interference.
He started his racing career in point-to-points and as an amateur and rode his first winner on 7-2 chance Redders Boy, trained by his father Tony, in the Pat Ruthven and Guy Nixon Memorial Vase Hunters’ Chase at Wincanton on Easter Monday, April 15, 1974. Redders Boy passed the post in second place, beaten two lengths by the odds-on favourite Forest Rock, but the stewards disqualified the winner for interference.
Philip turned professional at the age of 21 and went on to record his two biggest wins in the 1977 Black & White Whisky Gold Cup on Artifice and the 1985 Midlands Grand National on Northern Bay.
Philip turned professional at the age of 21 and went on to record his two biggest wins in the 1977 Black & White Whisky Gold Cup on Artifice and the 1985 Midlands Grand National on Northern Bay.
Shortly after that Midlands Grand National victory he began training, based near Minehead with a string of just six horses. His first winner as a trainer was North Yard, who he also rode, in the ‘Mousetrap’ Cup Handicap Chase at Devon & Exeter on August 22, 1985. He made a flying start, winning with five of his first eight runners.
Shortly after that Midlands Grand National victory he began training, based near Minehead with a string of just six horses. His first winner as a trainer was North Yard, who he also rode, in the ‘Mousetrap’ Cup Handicap Chase at Devon & Exeter on August 22, 1985. He made a flying start, winning with five of his first eight runners.
He had married Sarah in 1982 and she soon became a vital part of the training set up. Sarah’s father was Bertie Hill, Olympic Gold Medallist and the first British rider to compete in three equestrian Olympics. He partnered the Queen’s horse, Countryman to Olympic Gold in 1956 at Stockholm, and rode 18 winners as an amateur under National Hunt rules.
He had married Sarah in 1982 and she soon became a vital part of the training set up. Sarah’s father was Bertie Hill, Olympic Gold Medallist and the first British rider to compete in three equestrian Olympics. He partnered the Queen’s horse, Countryman to Olympic Gold in 1956 at Stockholm, and rode 18 winners as an amateur under National Hunt rules.
At Cheltenham, Philips’s biggest wins so far have included Flagship Uberalles in the 2002 Queen Mother Champion Chase and Rooster Booster in the 2003 Champion Hurdle. He has also won the 2007 Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle with Massini’s Maguire, the 2010 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with Menorah, and the 2011 Arkle Challenge Trophy with Captain Chris. In addition, he has won the Triumph Hurdle three times with Made In Japan (2004), Detroit City (2006) and Defi Du Seuil (2017).
At Cheltenham, Philips’s biggest wins so far have included Flagship Uberalles in the 2002 Queen Mother Champion Chase and Rooster Booster in the 2003 Champion Hurdle. He has also won the 2007 Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle with Massini’s Maguire, the 2010 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with Menorah, and the 2011 Arkle Challenge Trophy with Captain Chris. In addition, he has won the Triumph Hurdle three times with Made In Japan (2004), Detroit City (2006) and Defi Du Seuil (2017).
Away from Cheltenham, his major victories include Sandown’s Tingle Creek Chase twice with Flagship Uberalles (2001) and Defi Du Seuil (2019). The latter also won the Finale Juvenile Hurdle (2016), the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (2019), the Golden Miller Novices’ Chase (2019), and Ascot’s Clarence House Chase (2020).
Away from Cheltenham, his major victories include Sandown’s Tingle Creek Chase twice with Flagship Uberalles (2001) and Defi Du Seuil (2019). The latter also won the Finale Juvenile Hurdle (2016), the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (2019), the Golden Miller Novices’ Chase (2019), and Ascot’s Clarence House Chase (2020).
Other flagbearers have included the ill-fated Thyme Hill (2020 Challow Novices’ Hurdle, 2021 Liverpool Hurdle, 2022 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase), Monkerhostin (2004 Coral Cup), Balthazar King (2012, 2014 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase), and his famous 2009 Welsh Grand National hero Dream Alliance.
Other flagbearers have included the ill-fated Thyme Hill (2020 Challow Novices’ Hurdle, 2021 Liverpool Hurdle, 2022 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase), Monkerhostin (2004 Coral Cup), Balthazar King (2012, 2014 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase), and his famous 2009 Welsh Grand National hero Dream Alliance.
He has also trained Flat winners, most notably the 2006 Cesarewitch with Detroit City.
He has also trained Flat winners, most notably the 2006 Cesarewitch with Detroit City.
His major wins in Ireland to date are the 2003 Punchestown Champion Chase with Flagship Uberalles, and the 2010 Punchestown Gold Cup with Planet Of Sound.
His major wins in Ireland to date are the 2003 Punchestown Champion Chase with Flagship Uberalles, and the 2010 Punchestown Gold Cup with Planet Of Sound.