Festival News: Rooster Booster remains a hot favourite to follow up his Smurfit Champion Hurdle victory of 12 months ago after 14 runners were declared yesterday for tomorrow's showpiece.
Ladbrokes make Philip Hobbs's grey the 11 to 8 market leader for the highlight of the opening day of the festival, with Rigmarole next best at 3 to 1.
Rooster Booster returned to winning form at Haydock in January after three defeats since his Champion Hurdle win of 12 months ago.
Hobbs's charge has since finished second to tomorrow's rival Geos in the Tote Gold Trophy when giving weight away all round. He will be partnered once again by Richard Johnson.
The Jonjo O'Neill-trained pair, Intersky Falcon and Specular, are other leading fancies to have stood their ground and are rated as 8 to 1 and 12 to 1 chances respectively, while last year's runner-up Westender is a 16 to 1 chance.
The Irish are represented by Davenport Milenium, Fota Island, Golden Cross and Hardy Eustace, while the French have one challenger in Foreman. Limerick Boy, Self Defense and Hasty Prince complete the line-up.
There are three absentees from the 17 who were confirmed for the contest at the five-day stage last Thursday.
Flame Creek was announced a non-runner on Saturday after scoping dirty, while Jessica Harrington had already ruled out Spirit Leader as she was not satisfied with the mare.
Sporazene is the other contender who will not take his place in the extended two-mile contest. Trainer Paul Nicholls, who runs Rigmarole, has the five-year-old entered in the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle.
Connections of Limerick Boy are hoping for a big run from their six-year-old, who won the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton in January but unseated Sam Thomas at the first flight in the Tote Gold Trophy last time out.
"I saw him work on Wednesday, with all the owners, and he was very pleasing," said Graham Skeats, racing manager to Favourites Racing.
"We have no problems at all and we are on course. He put up a great performance off top weight in the Lanzarote and I just wish he had got round in the Tote, which would have had everybody on the edge of their seats.
"It would have given us a form line through Rooster Booster, but unfortunately it wasn't to be. At least he came back safe and sound."
Thomas will take the mount once again on Tuesday, but will not be able to take advantage of his 5lb claim. "The rain at Cheltenham will be in his favour, but as long as it is safe ground that will be fine for us, although soft to heavy ground would be to his advantage," Skeats added.
"He could be the dark horse of the field. We are in there with a shout and are hopeful of a big run. As reigning champion, Rooster Booster is the one we all have to beat.
"Pace in the race will suit us, but if there isn't any, we know he will get the trip. It's now just a case of keeping the fingers crossed."
Power Elite, as short as 12 to 1 in some books, is set to miss the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday. "He scoped badly," explained his trainer Noel Meade. The Co Meath handler suffered another blow when his promising six-year-old Watson Lake was also ruled out of the festival.
Watson Lake is entered in the Letheby and Christopher Supreme Novices' Hurdle and the Royal and SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle, but Meade said: "He got a fall schooling at home. He's okay, but I don't want to risk him."
Terry Biddlecombe braved the elements to complete his annual walk of the course and left content that conditions could be ideal for Best Mate in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The former champion jockey, whose wife Henrietta Knight trains Best Mate, declared the ground on the New Course, where Thursday's big race will be run, to be riding better than on the Old Course.
