'Our priority is getting confidence into him but he's a seriously good horse'

Tony Blair was prime minister, Geri Halliwell was top of the charts and a yearling called Galileo was only just learning about racing when Philip Hobbs previously appointed a new stable jockey. The year was 1999, the man was Richard Johnson and the rest is history.

A 22-year association ended with the shock retirement of Johnson on a low-key April afternoon at Newton Abbot. Tom O'Brien was handed the opportunity and a week later had ridden a Grade 1 winner for the stable.

Thyme Hill's gutsy Liverpool Hurdle success ended what was a difficult season on a high. Numerically, it was Hobbs's worst since 1992-93 with a tally of 54.