BILBROOK-based racehorse trainer Philip Hobbs came away from this year's Cheltenham Festival with two winners and a trio of thirds.

And it was a welcome return to the winner's enclosure for Hobbs, who had not triumphed at the festival since 2007.

He took firsts in the opening race of the festival last Tuesday and on the third day.

The 12-1 shot Menorah, ridden by Richard Johnson, narrowly beat Get Me Out of Here in the opening Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle to become the Bilbrook yard's 12th festival winner.

Later in the day, Hobbs also secured a third with Lacdoudal, ridden by Rhys Flint, in the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase.

Hobbs said he was relieved to win so early on in the festival and said he hoped the five-year-old Menorah had a bright future ahead of him.

"It was an enormous relief to win the first race on the first day.

"He is just five so the Champion Hurdle next year will probably be the plan and I am sure there will be a lot of improvement," Hobbs said.

On Thursday, Johnson rode his second winner of the festival for the yard, with Copper Bleu taking the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase.

The horse had finished fourth in the previous year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle but took the 2010 chase by three and a half lengths over runner-up Othermix.

Hobbs and Johnson also finished third later in the day with the 20-1 shot From Dawn to Dusk in the Byrne Group Plate Handicap Chase.

Hobbs' team rounded-off the four-day festival with another third on Friday, with Clova Island, ridden by Giles Hawkins, in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockey's Handicap Hurdle.

Another Hobbs charge, Balthazar King, fell in the same race.

Our picture shows Michaela Innes with Copper Bleu on the left and Kayleigh Andrews with Menorah.

Photo: Steve Guscott