Philip Hobbs

Philip Hobbs

Date of birth: 26 July 1955

Started training: 1985

Base: Minehead, Somerset

Festival wins: 5

2001-2002 wins: 119

2000-2001 wins: 83

1999-2000 wins: 112

Main jockey: Richard Johnson

Stable stars: Flagship Uberalles, Gunther McBride, Rooster Booster

Hobbs read agriculture at Reading University, but the family farm near Minehead is now famous for harvesting National Hunt winners rather than other more traditional crops.

A former professional jump jockey, Hobbs began his training career in 1985 with six horses which he kept in a cowshed.

But his first runner was a winner at Devon and Exeter and he has never looked back, with last season his best ever.

It saw him saddle 119 winners and he just lost out in a battle with his west country rival Paul Nicholls for the runners-up spot behind Martin Pipe.

And Hobbs picked up some prestigious race wins in the process, most notably the Queen Mother Champion Chase with Flagship Uberalles.

That victory capped a fine Festival, his tally of winners doubling in the final race of the meeting when Rooster Booster won the County Hurdle.

And Hobbs celebrated another winning double in 2003, with Rooster Booster claiming the Champion Hurdle while One Knight won the Royal and SunAlliance Chase.

His horses have also scored in some big handicaps.

Gunther McBride claimed victory in the Racing Post Chase while What's Up Boys won the Hennessy Gold Cup before being beaten into second in the Grand National.