Rooster Booster set for return

RACING: Reigning champion hurdler Rooster Booster remains on course to return to action in the Tote Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday week.

The Pertemps Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle last month had been mentioned as a possible starting point for the Philip Hobbs-trained nine-year-old, but a number of factors ruled him out of that contest.

"The Bula Hurdle is the plan for Rooster Booster," Hobbs said yesterday. "The ground was a bit too quick at Newcastle and also it was going to cause us jockey problems as we knew Richard (Johnson) was going to be at Newbury.

"It didn't really suit the owner (Terry Warner) as well come to that, so it was easier to wait for Cheltenham."

Plenty of trainers have been forced to delay the seasonal reappearance of their stable stars due to a lack of rain and unsuitable ground. But Hobbs has had few opportunities to run Rooster Booster due to the grey's vast improvement during the last campaign.

"Rooster Booster is now rated 170 and there just aren't the options for him that there were last year - that's the only difference," he explained.

Despite Rooster Booster having risen almost a stone and a half in the ratings since the beginning of last season, Hobbs is cautiously optimistic that his charge may find further improvement during this campaign.

Connections of Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup winner Strong Flow have not completely ruled out the possibility of taking on the best over fences this season.

The Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old is still only a novice but put up an exhilarating performance at Newbury.

The indications are that he will stick to the novice route for the rest of this season and he is hot favourite for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.

But owner Barry Marshall has not ruled out the possibility of taking on Best Mate and company in the King George VI Chase or Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.

"The thing now will be to watch the entries for both the King George and the Gold Cup and see how the fields stack up," he said. "The strength of the field for the King George will be the key."

Liam Cooper was suspended for two days for improper riding on Mac Hine at Market Rasen yesterday. The jockey picked up the ban (December 13th and 15th) for using his whip with excessive force on Jonjo O'Neill's charge, who finished runner-up to Keen To The Last.