Defi Du Seuil goes novice chasing to lead the charge for resurgent Hobbs

Last season wasn't plain sailing at Sandhill Stables, with health issues contributing to the lowest seasonal total in many years, but Philip Hobbs, as befits his many years of experience, remains unperturbed by the blip and quietly optimistic for the future.

"We had 60-odd winners but for us it was a little bit slow, because a lot of our horses were affected by a bug that we couldn't really get rid of," he explains.

"It's frustrating because you never know quite what you're dealing with. It's the same as you or me having a cold – there are so many different viruses around that it's impossible to say what it is you've got, so you just have to give them antibiotics and plenty of time. They're good and healthy again now though, and we're looking forward to a good season.