Philip Hobbs trainer of Mendip Express© Photo Healy Racing
It is all systems go for a shot at the St James's Place Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival for Mendip Express after he snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in an incident-packed totetrifecta Foxhunter Trial at Fontwell on Sunday.
Despite putting in a less than fluent round of jumping, the 4/9 favourite, purchased by current connections for £75,000 out of trainer Harry Fry's yard last May, had enough class to get the better of Impact Area
In a race which saw three of the five runners fall, the Philip Hobbs-trained runner was nearly a late casualty himself when making a shuddering mistake at the third-last while holding a healthy advantage out in front.
Just as it looked as though a shock was in store, the odds-on favourite rallied to the cause to get up inside the final 100 yards and post an all-out victory by a neck.
Hobbs said: "That's job done. I think to be honest it was such a messy race you can't read too much into it.
"The mistake at the third-last didn't help. Hopefully all being well he will be off to the Foxhunter at Cheltenham now." Orbasa looks to be Festival-bound after providing jockey Noel Fehily with his 100th winner of the season when finishing alone in the toteplacepot Josh Gifford Memorial Novices' Chase.
After only other rivals Blue Bear and Ma'ire Rua fell late on in the extended two-mile-one-furlong contest the five-year-old French import put in a near foot-perfect round of jumping to make his debut for trainer Paul Nicholls a winning one.
Tom Jonason, assistant trainer, said of the 1-5 winner: "Noel was very complementary when he came back in and he began by saying he just does enough but the further he went the better he got.
"He jumped brilliantly and coming into the race we knew that he would come on a lot and he looked very well in the paddock, so hopefully it's onwards and upwards.
"I think the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase at the Festival is probably where he will go."
