RACING: Rooster Booster enhanced his Smurfit Champion Hurdle aspirations when powering to success under top-weight in the Rehabilitation of Racehorses Hurdle at Cheltenham yesterday.
Philip Hobbs' charge dished out a nine-length drubbing to Quazar in the hands of Seamus Durack after cruising to the front at the penultimate hurdle.
His stablemate In Contrast was held in second spot when crashing out at the last.
Hobbs said: "Amazing isn't it? It's just extraordinary for a horse of his age (eight) to be still improving and it might have something to do with the new three-furlong Polytrack strip we have at home, as he seems to be moving more freely this year.
"The handicapper Phil Judge has already told me that's it for the horse in handicaps from now on, so the Bula Hurdle here at the next meeting in December seems the obvious option and then we will see about the Champion Hurdle."
Hobbs added that In Contrast was none the worse for his tumble and that Richard Johnson would be back aboard Rooster Booster.
Bookmakers Coral, Victor Chandler and Sean Graham reacted by cutting the Hobbs gelding to 10 to 1 for the hurdlers' crown in March, but Paddy Power are still 12 to 1 from 20 to 1.
Paul Nicholls tagged Azertyuiop "the best novice chaser I've trained since Flagship Uberalles" after the five-year-old hammered Golden Alpha in the Grade Two Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase.
Azertyuiop was slashed to 6 to 1 favourite for the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham next March by Coral and Sean Graham following the victory.
Ruby Walsh's partner stalked the pace-setting Golden Alpha before easily moving past him going to the final fence and posting a 16-length success.
Nicholls said: "We have always thought he would be exciting over fences and that was a great performance.
"He will now be trained very much with the Arkle Chase next March in mind.
"He will either run in the Henry VIII Chase at Sandown early next month or a £100,000 novices chase at Leopardstown over the Christmas holiday, and then have one more outing before Cheltenham."
Irish amateur John Paul Magnier, son of Coolmore supremo John, enjoyed his first victory in Britain when confidently easing 9 to 4 favourite Rhinestone Cowboy to victory over Liberman in the Listed Betfair Open Bumper.
Winning trainer Jonjo O'Neill said: "He may have one more run in a bumper before going hurdling and I suppose the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Festival is an option and we may even waste an entry for him in the Champion Hurdle.
"I don't think I would put him in if he were mine, but that sort of decision is not up to only me. He is a lovely horse and brilliant to train. He does everything you ask him and has always schooled and worked really well. All we want to do is have a clear run with him."
Tony McCoy bounced back from a couple of disappointments on Saturday to take the riding honours with a treble following victories for Taming, Tucacas and Halexy.
