Racing: Reigning champion hurdler Rooster Booster is likely to have one more run before heading to Cheltenham to defend his prestigious title, trainer Philip Hobbs said yesterday.

The grey regained winning ways with a seven-length victory in the Red Square Vodka Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock on Saturday.

"I think he will run again before Cheltenham but it is unlikely to be in Ireland at the end of the month (the AIG Champion Hurdle)," Hobbs said.

"He might run in the Agfa Hurdle at Sandown in February, which he won last year, and he will have an entry in the Tote Gold Trophy."

The 10-year-old lost his previous two starts this term when not suited by a slow pace, but looked back to something like his best on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Kingscliff, whose Gold Cup pretensions received a massive jolt when he was beaten by Artic Jack at Haydock on Saturday has come back with what trainer Robert Alner fears is a muscular problem. The 13-length defeat was the shock result on a big weekend for Cheltenham-bound horses but Alner remains keen to run his charge in chasing's blue riband.