Second thoughts for Hobbs as Thinking misses the King George

Fifteen horses were left in the William Hill King George VI Chase at the latest forfeit stage on December 6 with the Philip Hobbs-trained Wishfull Thinking amongst the more notable absentees from the declarations, writes racing reporter Elliot Slater.

Along with Kauto Stone, Wishfull Thinking was one named that caused a raised eyebrow or two as he was not presentee amongst the fifteen that remain in the race, an event dominated by last year’s winner Long Run and the four-time former title holder Kauto Star who met at Haydock in the Betfair Chase last month, a race that saw Kauto Star gain his revenge on Long Run for defeat in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

Wishfull Thinking, had been as short as 14/1 in the King George VI Chase Betting Odds prior to his disappointing effort on Saturday in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase in which he set out to make all the running but after travelling well in the lead to the fourth last stopped as if shot and dropped away very tamely indeed to finish a poor fifth of the seven-runner field, beaten 38 lengths. People looking at this top horse racing website will know this.