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Philip Hobbs and Johnson White 2026-27 Jumps season stable tour

Last Updated: Tue 20 Oct 2026

If a slip of paper was handed to Philip Hobbs & Johnson White at the start of last season telling them what they would go on to achieve in the 2025/26 campaign there is a fair chance they would have accepted it.

While their number of winners, 38, was marginally down on the 53 from the season before, the prize money figure was considerably higher, as was the quality of victories the Bilbrook-based training duo celebrated throughout the season.

Although they were to be denied a first Cheltenham Festival winner together following Sober Glory’s near miss in the Grade One Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, it was to finish in perfect fashion after Kap Vert bravely claimed the Coral Scottish Grand National up at Ayr.

Throw in victories for Captain Hugo in the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle up at Kelso, and for Imperial Saint in the Sky Bet Peter Marsh Handicap Chase at Haydock Park, and it all adds up to a reasonably successful campaign.

This season will see the exciting Sober Glory bid to make his mark over fences, while hopes are high that Captain Hugo, Imperial Sant and Kap Vert can plunder more big prizes.

And, with an influx of new equine recruits joining the established stars at Sandhill Racing Stables, there is every chance that even better results can be achieved this season.

White said: “Overall we were pleased. It was great to have the higher class winners, which was great. Imperial Saint winning the Peter Marsh was great for Dicky Johnson, and syndicates generally.

“Captain Hugo, winning the Morebattle and then finishing second in the Scottish Champion Hurdle was a great season for him. Kap Vert finished off our season nicely by winning the Scottish Grand National.

“We would always like more winners, but if you told us at the beginning of last season what we were going to end up with we would have taken it.

“On paper we have got a very nice team. We have bought several over the spring, summer and autumn, and they are all doing what we would like them to be doing so we have a lot to look forward to.”

The hugely exciting Sober Glory is set to go chasing this season (Pic: Focusonracing)

AGUELLID

“He improved with every run he had last season. He is just a big horse that knows his strength. He just needs to learn to race, and I’m sure a couple of runs over hurdles will benefit him greatly before he goes chasing.

“For a big horse he is very nimble and athletic at his obstacles. He will be a good chaser, but he needs to learn how to race and use his engine before we get to that stage.

“I think his first run he will be fresh and keen. I suppose a lot depends on his second run as to how much he has learnt and how much he has remembered as to if we go chasing afterwards. He has got the agility to do well over a fence.”

ANNIVERSARY

“I was delighted with his first run over hurdles. His last couple of runs on the flat had been disappointing, but his work here had been pleasing, and his schooling had gone well.

“I thought he showed a good attitude at Fontwell to win like he did. I’ve no reason to think that a bigger handicap hurdle at some stage would be a problem to him.

“He will get a handicap mark on Tuesday, and we will make a plan from there. I was very pleased with his run at Plumpton on Monday. He was beaten by what looks to be a very good horse in Bass Hunter, so there was no disgrace in that.”

CALL ME LEGEND

“He is an incredibly tough and consistent horse. He is going to start over fences at Ffos Las on Thursday.

“He will be one to aim at novice handicap chases over a staying trip as he wants all of three miles. He is one that handles testing ground well as well. I think he will improve on what he did last season.”

CAPTAIN HUGO

“Last season was a very good one for him overall. He took on a very good horse at Aintree when he was beaten, and I’m sure he would have gone close at Musselburgh before he tipped up there,

"Obviously the Morebattle win was fantastic, but I think he ran a good race in the Scottish Champion Hurdle in those conditions. He didn’t jump as well as he could in the heavy ground, so to finish second when things were against him was very pleasing.

“He is a bit like Sober Glory in that he will get further but at the moment he doesn’t need to. I’m sure there is still improvement to be had with him. He is stronger as an individual and that can only hold him in good stead.

“He has come out of the Welsh Champion Hurdle well and the plan is to now go to the Greatwood at Cheltenham with him. He will improve for that run, and I think he will improve for going up the hill at Cheltenham as well.”

DAKOTA STAR

“I was delighted with his win on his third start at Exeter. He is only four, but he is a big horse that will hopefully continue on an upward trend.

“He is a lot stronger, and he has been a lot more streetwise this autumn, which can only be a positive.

“He will continue life over hurdles and I think he is destined for a good season. He would be one that would go on slightly better ground. There is lots to look forward to with him.”

DOCTORS HILL

“He had a good season last season and he will now go straight over fences at Ffos Las on Thursday. I can’t say anything negative about him and he is a big strong individual that should improve over fences.

“He would probably start off over a stiff two miles. He was a little bit unlucky last season on a couple of occasions and I think he is better than his mark.”

FRENCH SHIP

“I think we will have a run over hurdles before we probably go chasing after that. At the moment we are just keeping a close eye on the weather, and the options that are available.

“We weren’t able to school him over fences in the spring because of the ground. He is a high class horse that will be competing in high class races again this season.

“He jumps hurdles well, but he is not the biggest of horses. Hopefully he has the scope to jump fences as the option of going chasing might make life a bit easier for him.

“He has been a little bit later coming in than some, but he has been in good form. I would say we would see him out early November. His season debut is more likely to be delayed by ground than fitness.”

IMPERIAL SAINT

“Looking through the programme book the Old Roan would be the obvious place to start with his love of Aintree. He schooled well yesterday and looks in great form.

“He didn’t stay in the Grand National, so I don’t think we will be heading back down that route again, but we will work back from the Topham as he took to the fences very well.

“He is the only horse in history to have won at Aintree three times in one season. He is fairly adaptable distance wise, other than the extreme of the Grand National.

“I think as to which of the Grand Sefton or Becher he goes for, will depend on the ground. If it is soft or heavy he would go for the Grand Serfton and if it was better he would go for the Becher.

“We have got the Peter Marsh, which he won last season, as a nice target before going back to Aintree in the spring.”

JOHNJOES LAD

“He won an Irish point-to-point that we picked up at the Goffs UK Spring Sale. His movement drew us to him as much as anything else. His ratings and form were why we looked at him in the first place, but as soon as he came out of the stable he just walked well.

“He is pleasing us home, and in all likelihood, will be another that joins our novice hurdle team this season.

KAP VERT

“Having won his second race at Taunton the options were a chase at Ludlow or a novice handicap chase at Ayr, or the Scottish Grand National.

“We plumped for the Scottish Grand National. As it turned out on the day with all the rain, we were going up a mile in trip and into unknown territory on the ground, but he ticked all the boxes. I don’t think he is an out and out slogger.

“The first opportunity to run him would be the Badger Beers at Wincanton, but I think the ground will probably be plenty quick enough for him, so as a result he will probably go straight to the Coral Gold Cup.

“I don’t think he would need an away day before that, and equally I think we would struggle to find nicer ground for an away day before he runs. We have got him fit here at Sandhill before, and we will stick to that route this season.

“He is quite a big heavy horse, but I don’t think he needs a racecourse gallop before he runs.

“I would prefer to go down the Grand National route in the second half of the season if we can get him high enough in the weights. I think he would be ideally suited to Aintree. If we can’t get him high enough in the weights for Aintree we will try and retain our title at Ayr.”

KEABLE

“He had a really good season over hurdles last season. He is one we would have liked to have schooled over fences in the spring before he went to grass, but we didn’t get a chance to.

“He is entered in a Challenger Stayers’ Hurdles Series qualifier at Aintree on Sunday, but he would all need the rain that is in the forecast. They are forecast a lot of rain so I suspect we will go up there.”

KIKIJO

“Last season was a complete muddle in a lot of respects, but they were good muddles. We sold the dream of him being a handicap chaser to his new owners, but when it came to the time of actually running him there wasn’t a suitable chase for him so we gave him a spin over hurdles at Aintree.

"He is always a horse that will improve for a run as he is a stocky horse. He ran very well to finish fourth, but after chatting to Dicky we decided to keep him over hurdles. It was more by chance than something that was beautifully planned.

“He put up two real tough performances at Cheltenham and Sandown Park. We were very limited where we could go after that. The Cheltenham Festival and Aintree were the only real options, but sadly the ground dried out too much for him and it was all too quick for him.

“He has come back in looking fantastic, and, I can categorically say, he will go over fences this season. He starts off over fences of a mark of one hundred and twenty eight, which I think he is good for. He is only six, and, for a horse that hasn’t got much experience over fences and is not overly big, he is very athletic as he jumped very well at Newbury on both his chase starts.

"The Welsh Grand National is a potential target as we know he stays and he wants softer ground. Those staying races would be for him this season.”

KILWAUGHTER

“He showed a good level of ability when joining us after running well to finish sixth in the Grade Two bumper at Aintree along with being placed at the Punchestown Festival.

“The ground probably wasn’t ideal at Punchestown, but he ran a hell of a race. Things just weren’t ideal for his last season. I think when we have things in his favour this season he is definitely capable of showing a lot more than he has. He has definitely got a big engine.

“The plan is to start him off in a handicap hurdle at Ffos Las on Thursday. He will probably slip in a little bit un-noticed. We have not written him off by any means.”

LIMIER D’ARTHEL

“He was placed twice last season. He was a bit fizzy in first couple of starts, but he took good steps forward with the experience he had last season.

“He starts off in a handicap hurdle at Worcester on Wednesday. I wouldn’t know where his ceiling is, but he is a nice horse that hasn’t shown us what he is capable of yet.”

LIMERICK STAR

“He ran consistently well last season and I was delighted with his win on his final start at Uttoxeter. We always thought he was a nice horse, but he had a leg problem the season before last. He was quite green on his first couple of runs last season, but learnt on the job a bit. He is a smashing looking horse. We schooled him over fences, and he jumped very well.

“He will go straight over fences, but, having had a tendon problem in the past, he will want cut in the ground. The step up in trip probably helped him last season. I would like to think he should be up to winning off his current mark.”

LIVIN ON LUCO

“The Welsh Grand National is very much the target again. He can't go back to Fontwell for the race he won last season as he is too high in the handicap.

“He ran a blinder to finish fourth in the Welsh Grand National last season. He is a straightforward, sensible horse that jumps well.

“Races like the Eider Chase at Newcastle you would like to think he would be competitive in as the season goes on.

“He is in great form, and he is ready to go. He is entered on Sunday in the Desert Orchid Orchid Silver Cup, which has been switched to Market Rasen from Wincanton, and he could start off up there.”

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LORD MAX

“He is a lovely half-brother to Sober Glory. He was in work in the spring, and we have done a lot of schooling with him.

“Because of Sober Glory’s success in bumpers he will almost certainly start off in a bumper and see where that takes us. He has been doing everything nicely at the moment.”

MANUELITO

“We have done plenty of schooling with him since he had that fall on his last start at Ascot. He was just a bit nervous having had that fall, which is completely understandable, but he has improved with every session he has had. He will start off hurdles, but once we get the confidence in his jumping he will make a nice chaser in time.

“A fall like what he had can dent their confidence, and attitude, but it certainly hasn’t dented his, and he seems to have retained all his ability.”

OH MY JOHNNY

“He had a slightly disappointing season compared to the one before that. He had a good run at Ascot when he was placed there. The plan is to go over fences with him, and he will go straight over three miles. He definitely wants cut in the ground.

“He is a lot stronger this year, and holding more condition. He is one that we did school in the spring, and having come from Irish point-to-pointing, he did jump very well.

“He had a small injury in his back end muscles, and he might have just been feeling that throughout the season, but the chiropractor sees him regularly and he is happy with him.”

PASSAGE GUENOT

“He has done a couple of pieces of work here so far. He finished second in his only Irish point-to-point before joining us. He is a smashing looking horse that is doing everything right at the moment. He will almost certainly go straight over hurdles.”

QUICKKICK

“He is a little bit like Aguellid, in that he improved with every run just through race experience. His first couple of runs he was very keen and buzzy. He was keen enough at Newton Abbot, but he held enough in reserve to win nicely on the day.

“He will start over at Ffos Las on Thursday. He will continue to go the right way with experience. He is quite forward mentally, but he will improve on what he does first and second time out. He has been more relaxed at home this autumn.

“I would hope he could take aim at some nice prizes, but you wouldn’t be thinking that route yet until we know he is settled in his races, however he has the ability to be thinking that way. I’m sure as he learns to race he will get further than two miles.”

RED N YELLOW

“He finished second on his first three starts over hurdles before missing last season with an injury. He will be pitched straight into handicap hurdles as he has some strong bits of form to his name. He will make up into a nice chaser, but that is more likely to be next season.”

ROSIE’S HONOUR

“She is a lovely mare that ran really well in her one bumper. She did a lot of schooling before she ran in her bumper so she will kick on over hurdles now.

“She is not the biggest mare, but she has got a lovely attitude. As we saw in her bumper, she has got a good level of ability.

“How far that will take her over hurdles I’m not sure, but she has done a lot of schooling and is ready to run over hurdles when the ground is right. Hopefully she is a good fun horse for the season.”

ROYAL JEWEL

“He was very consistent last season. He is rated one hundred and thirty six and he jumps well. He doesn’t want it bottomless, but he will go on softer ground. He is a lot stronger this autumn, and I can see him improving on what he has done so far. His form stacks up well.

“I think he is well able to hold his own in those better handicaps at the likes of Ascot and Cheltenham this season. It will probably depend on the ground as to which way we go with him as if it was slightly quicker he would go three miles, but if it was slightly slower he could drop back to two and a half miles as he has plenty of gears to travel over that distance.

“I wouldn’t rule out something like the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Chase at Newbury as he would like it around there.”

SIRGREG

“He is a lovely horse that Sarah Hobbs and Dicky Johnson bred. We only ran him once last season in a bumper at Exeter, but it was a very pleasing run as he was very green that day before finishing third.

“He has done lots of schooling over hurdles, back in the spring and this autumn. He will go straight over hurdles. I would think we would go over two and a half miles to start with. He is a stronger model than when he ran in his bumper.”

SITTIN ON A FORTUNE

“He keeps improving with every piece of work he has. He is a gorgeous looking horse that my daughter Molly bought in Ireland privately having won his last point-to-point. He will go straight over hurdles. I would say we would start off over two miles, but he will invariably get further in time. He is a chaser in the making.”

SOBER GLORY

Johnson White On Sober Glory

Watch what Johnson White has to say about plans for Sober Glory.

“He did run a very good race in the Supreme. It was just frustrating from our point of view that he made a fluff of the last hurdle. He then got a bit squeezed up on that island rail, so it wasn’t to be, but he ran a hell of a race. After Aintree he didn’t scope particularly clean afterwards, but we have got a lot to look forward going chasing this season.

“Had he won at either Aintree or Cheltenham it would have probably been a more difficult decision, but at the same time we schooled him over fences and he schooled very well.

“Part of the decision was that his owners have Alexei with Joe Tizzard who is going down the Champion Hurdle route, but equally Sober Glory, in his own individual merits, is a chaser to look at and that is the route we are going.

“There are several nice options to start him off, but none will be taken up until the ground is suitable enough for him to run. I think he is a horse that will get further, but at this stage he doesn’t need to as he has plenty of gears to travel over two miles.

“We very nearly started off over further than two miles last season. Micheal Nolan, who won bumpers on him, was adamant we should start over two miles as he might be a bit buzzy, and as we can see in his form there was no need to step up in trip.

“I think we will have to have a run or two over fences first and see where that takes us.

“We discussed whether to run him at Cheltenham this weekend, but we decided not to in the end. There are a couple of other options coming up, but it is all ground dependent.”

THE HARDEST GEEZER

“He didn’t get his head in front last season, but he ran very well in some very competitive two mile handicap hurdles. He was unfortunate to slip up in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle.

“He actually damaged his shoulder in that fall which was a shame as I would have loved to take him to big handicaps at Cheltenham and Aintree.

“He will start off over two miles over hurdles as I’m convinced there is a good two mile hurdle race in him. He can go over fences when we need to, but I need to scratch that itch that he is capable of winning a two mile hurdle race.

“He is in at Cheltenham on Friday, but I would like all the rain that is forecast to fall, however that is the plan at the moment to go there with him.

“Hopefully we can look at nice handicaps with him again this season as he has got good placed form with horses like Wilful. I’m very excited about him.”

THOMAS MOR

“He ran a blinder in the Kauto Star at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, and that form behind Kitzbuhel worked out very well.

“He is a horse that we had one of our most frustrating moments of last season as we couldn’t run him in the Reynoldstown as he had a sore wither.

“The ground was plenty lively enough for him in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham, however I think he has got a big season ahead and I wouldn’t rule out something like the Coral Gold Cup for him.

“We have entered him in the Sodexo Live! Regal Encore Handicap Chase at Ascot. That is very much the plan to go to Ascot, but he has also got an entry in the Badger Beers at Wincanton as well.

“He is holding his condition well and we are chuffed to bits with him.”

TITI MONTMARTRE

“He won his only English point-to-point at Alnwick. We are looking at starting him off at Aintree on Sunday over two and a half miles, but I would say he will want a trip in time.

“He had a couple of entries in the spring, but because of the ground he didn’t run. Hopefully that will be the making of him because has filled out his frame. He is now a much stronger horse this year. He is likely to run at Aintree on Sunday.”

WESTERN CROSS

“He ran well on his hurdles debut at Hereford, but he was then too keen at Taunton before he finished fourth on his handicap debut at Exeter. He then went back to Exeter and made all in good style.

“He will start off over hurdles, but he is another one that is a bit keen and fizzy, and he will improve for the experience. "Hopefully he can continue to progress this season.”

WONDERFUL EAGLE

“He had a tendon injury, but he has now come back from that. It is great to have him back as he is ultra-consistent. He has got a fantastic temperament and attitude.

“He will start off in a handicap hurdle and we will see where that takes us.”

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