RACING: Jonjo O'Neill yesterday revealed that he would not be against the exciting novice Rhinestone Cowboy running in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle. "He's in great form and as long as a I can get him to Cheltenham as good as he is now, I'd be delighted and I don't mind which way he goes.

"Being a novice, personally I'd go the novice route but he's a good horse. If we decide to have a crack at the Champion then we will, so we'll see," the Jackdaws Castle trainer told attheraces.

Rhinestone Cowboy, who extended his 100 per cent record over hurdles to three at Wetherby last Saturday is as low as 6 to 1 for the Champion with Ladbrokes. O'Neill's other runner, Intersky Falcon, is favourite for the race.

The seven-year-old, owned by Sue Magnier, is also a short-priced favourite for the Gerrard Wealth Management Supreme Novices' Hurdle run on the same day at the Festival, Tuesday, March 11th.

O'Neill went on: "He's probably run up to 130 or 140 at the most. You need a 160, 170 or 180 to make sure you are going to win the Champion Hurdle.

"He's in good form. We'll see how he goes from now to Cheltenham and we'll decide later on."

Keen Leader also boosted his Cheltenham prospects at Wetherby last Saturday. Said O'Neill: "He's a good horse and a good jumper. He has a real engine on him.

"The fact that he has fallen at Cheltenham before would not come into it. He's a very good horse; there's no doubt about that."

Keen Leader is 7 to 2 favourite for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase with Ladbrokes but he also holds an entry in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Ruby Walsh is to be sponsored by Triumph Hurdle backers JCB from now until the end of the season, it was announced yesterday. Walsh is a regular visitor to Britain and is retained by Paul Nicholls.

Additional fixtures are to be held at Limerick on Wednesday, February 26th and at Thurles on Thursday, March 6th, Horse Racing Ireland have announced.