JOHN Gosden remains hopeful the sidelined Jack Hobbs will return to action before the end of the season.

Runner-up to stable companion Golden Horn in the Investec Derby at Epsom last June, the Halling colt went one better in the Irish equivalent before going on to finish third in the Champion Stakes at Ascot.

He looked set for a big campaign in 2016, but suffered a stress fracture to his pelvis when pulling up on his seasonal reappearance in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket in late April.

Providing an update at Royal Ascot, Gosden said: "Jack Hobbs is doing fine and he's in light walking exercise at the minute and he's fully sound. The plan is to come back in September."