'He's been fantastic and is a really exciting horse this season - I'm hoping he'll end up at the spring festivals'

The feelgood factor is back at Philip Hobbs and Johnson White's Minehead base after a flying start to the campaign and with a team packed full of young prospects.

Among them are the unbeaten Sober Glory and the Grade 1-bound Starzand, but there are plenty more who could emerge in one of the most enviable teams of novice hurdlers assembled anywhere this season.

There is also a major big-race hope to look forward to in the coming days with Lowry's Bar, among the stable's flagship horses for the last two seasons, being lined up for Newbury's Coral Gold Cup next weekend.