WEST Somerset's top racehorse trainer Philip Hobbs celebrated his most successful showing at Cheltenham with six winners in three days at the weekend.

Together with stable jockey Richard Johnson, he dominated the opening day of the Cheltenham Open Meeting with Grand National runner-up Balthazar King winning for the eighth time at the course in the Cross-Country Chase.

The ten-year-old gelding was the 4-7 favourite and completed the opening day's treble for Hobbs and Johnson.

The pair had already chalked up victories with 14-1 chance Bold Henry in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase and a celebrated win for Champagne West in the Steel Plate and Sections Novices' Chase.

The victory for Champagne West came at the expense of stablemate Colour Squadron who was the 7-4 favourite.

Bold Henry landed the two-mile Handicap Chase on only his third start over fences.

On Saturday, it was the turn of Golden Doyen to go clear in the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial, winning by three-quarters of a length.

The closing day saw the winning pair land two of the most prestigious events of the meet.

It started with 7-2 Dunraven Storm leading from the front to win the Arkle Trophy Trial Novices' Chase.

Their weekend finished with their sixth win in the 19 races with 10-1 shot Garde La Victoire in the Greatwood Hurdle.

Hobbs had previously won the Greatwood with stable stars Detroit City, Rooster Booster and Menorah but had concerns about the soft ground and Garde La Victoire's jumping before the race.

In the event, he pulled clear of 7-2 favourite Vaniteux to take the title.

And while it was six of the best for Hobbs, Johnson made it to his magnificent seven by winning the concluding Listed Bumper on the Steve Gollings-trained Definitly Red.

Hobbs said: "Before the meeting started I said I would settle for two winners and Richard said three. To have six is phenomenal.

"I could not have imagined it in my wildest dreams.

"It was borderline whether we ran Sunday's two winners because we thought it might be too soft for them."

Johnson's feat – he was only eligible to ride in 17 of the races - matched that of AP McCoy, who won seven races at the meeting in 2001.

Hobbs' tally takes him to to the top of the trainers' championship table, ahead of Paul Nicholls, Nicky Henderson and Jonjo O'Neill.

Afterwards he paid tribute to his staff at Sandhill Racing Stables in Bilbrook, adding: "I can't remember having six winners at any meeting, so we'll enjoy it while it lasts.

"Realistically, it's the whole team at home. Without the staff at home, nothing happens.

"We probably haven't got the ammunition of some of those going for the trainers' title, but winning these big prizes certainly helps."