Easy Does It

Philip Hobbs has welcomed the drying weather conditions for many of his intended runners at the Cheltenham Festival.

Veteran WISHFULL THINKING has shown some of his best form at this time of year and has looked in good order in his preparatory work for the Ryanair Chase.

Thursday's feature appears to be a pretty hot contest with plenty of fancied contenders, but Wishfull Thinking has frequently defied the odds, as was the case in the Old Roan and Peterborough Chases this season.

BIG EASY is considered by Hobbs to be one of his best chances in the Pertemps Final.

The grey boasts form at the top level in his division, having gained a career best triumph on the Flat in the Cesarewitch.

He's looked accomplished in his work this week on his trainer's network of all-weather gallops.

DUKE OF LUCCA travels better in cross-country races than he does in regular handicap chases. That will be of use to him in the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase on Wednesday.

The gelding looks an able deputy for BALTHAZAR KING, who continues to please in his Crabbie's Grand National preparation.

HORIZONTAL SPEED and BOLD HENRY give Hobbs an interesting pair for the CHAPS Restaurants Barbados Novices' Handicap Chase, and both have been going well.

The former goes well on better ground, and looks like a will be competitive if getting his conditions.

HELLO GEORGE keeps promising to pop up in a decent handicap hurdle and looked bright in his final breeze for Saturday's European Breeders' Fund William Hill "National Hunt" Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final at Sandown.