Coughing scare for Hobbs but City clear - Exclusive

Philip Hobbs, trainer of Champion Hurdle favourite Detroit City, has admitted that there is a bout of coughing in his yard.

The stable has been relatively quiet in recent days and the Minehead handler withdrew hurdling debutant Picharo from the opener at Huntingdon yesterday.

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However, Hobbs insists it is business as usual and the prospect of Detroit City lining up against current and former champions Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace in a mouth-watering highlight of next month's Cheltenham Festival is still very much on the cards.

With Fair Along bidding to maintain his unbeaten record over fences in the Arkle Trophy, the 51-year-old trainer is responsible for ante-post favourites in two of the first three races of the four-day Festival meeting.

And he is taking no chances.

Hobbs admitted: "We've had some coughing. It's one of those things that you usually get at this time of year. There are the odd one or two, and we are obviously doing all we can to keep them (Detroit City and Fair Along) away from the others as much as we can, and they are fine."

Lacdoudal, winner of the Betfred Gold Cup last season, found the sticky ground against him in the Racing Post Chase at Kempton last year, but despite the recent wet weather, Hobbs insists the eight-year-old will take his place in tomorrow's renewal.

"He's fine. The aim is to run and he will, unless it is very soft," said Hobbs.