Hobbs thinking about Celebration

Wishfull Thinking will try to end the campaign on a high in the Bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

Trainer Philip Hobbs has decided to run the nine-year-old in the Grade Two contest over two miles at the Esher track rather than go for the Boylesports.com Champion Chase at Punchestown on Tuesday.

"He's going for the Celebration Chase at Sandown on Saturday for two reasons. One is the ground at Punchestown this week is going to be soft, the other is we are not going to be meeting Sizing Europe," Hobbs told At The Races.

"I imagine he'd be favourite for the race at Sandown on Saturday."

Wishfull Thinking has had a frustrating campaign so far, but Hobbs was encouraged by his second place behind Finian's Rainbow in the John Smith's Melling Chase at Aintree earlier this month.

"It was a massive improvement at Aintree so that was very good," the Minehead trainer went on.

"Finian's Rainbow does not run on Saturday. I've asked Nicky Henderson already.

"I'm not sure what the best way to ride him is. We'll have to see how the race works out."