PHILIP Hobbs can look forward to plotting a route back to Cheltenham for next year’s Champion Hurdle after Menorah’s battling qualities saw him take the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle under top weight yesterday.

RIGHTLY or wrongly, National Hunt jockeys these days are rated by the number of winners they ride at the Cheltenham Festival.

Sizing Europe ignored the quite atrocious conditions at Cheltenham to give Henry de Bromhead his finest training moment in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle.

TONY McCOY is hoping to expose any chinks in the armour of Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle favourite Detroit City in the Agfa UK Hurdle at Sandown this afternoon.

Owner Terry Warner has confirmed Detroit City to be firmly on course for the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday week.

Detroit City and Fair Along gave trainer Philip Hobbs a one-two in the JCB Triumph Hurdle on the fourth and final day of the Cheltenham Festival.

OWNER Terry Warner last night led the tributes to Rooster Booster, the popular grey who collapsed and died on the gallops today.

Owner Terry Warner led the tributes to Rooster Booster, the popular grey who collapsed and died on the gallops today.

Rooster Booster died on the gallops this morning while being prepared for the Stan James Christmas Hurdle at Sandown on St Stephen's Day.

Rooster Booster may undergo some tests this week following his disappointing showing in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday.

Rooster Booster returns to the scene of his greatest triumph when he heads a 21-strong field for the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday.

Rooster Booster is fit and well after thrilling trainer Philip Hobbs with victory at Huntingdon and is likely to reappear in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham next month.

Rooster Booster, winner of the 2003 Champion Hurdle, showed he is no back number with a smooth victory at Huntingdon.

Rooster Booster, winner of the 2003 Champion Hurdle, is on course to begin his seventh winter campaign over hurdles at Huntingdon on Saturday.

Rooster Booster is on course to begin his seventh winter campaign over hurdles at Huntingdon on Saturday.

Former Champion Hurdle winner Rooster Booster, trained by Philip Hobbs, is set to make his seasonal reappearance at Huntingdon on October 15.

Mr Cool rolled back the years to spring a 33-1 shock in the opening race at Haydock Park today.

Rooster Booster tops a field of 13 for Saturday’s Stanleybet Handicap Hurdle at Haydock, where he is set for a rematch with Royal Shakespeare.

ROOSTER BOOSTER will be kept in training next year for a “selective” campaign and is set for a quick reappearance in the Freephone Stanleybet Swinton Hurdle a week on Saturday.

Rooster Booster will be kept in training next year for a “selective” campaign and is set for a quick reappearance in the Freephone Stanleybet Swinton Hurdle a week on Saturday.

Rooster Booster is on course to run at Aintree next week after failing in his bid to regain his Champion Hurdle crown.

Owner Terry Warner believes Rooster Booster will have to topple Irish runner Back In Front if he is to reclaim his Smurfit Champion Hurdle crown at Cheltenham tomorrow.

JESSICA HARRINGTON will put the finishing touches to Moscow Flyer’s Cheltenham Festival preparations with a spin over fences today.

LAST year’s Cheltenham Festival produced one of the most poignant moments in the history of the great event.

Rooster Booster, the Champion Hurdle winner of 2003, is among a record 134 entries for the Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Rooster Booster’s owner Terry Warner still believes that his popular grey can make the frame in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.

ESSEX was on the drift yesterday at the head of the market for today’s totesport Trophy Hurdle - but trainer Michael O’Brien is still confident about his chance.

LIKE-A-BUTTERFLY, Christy Roche’s big Arkle Trophy hope, will miss the Grade Two Flyingbolt ’Chase at Navan on Sunday.

Rooster Booster has been ruled out of a quick return to action in next Saturday’s totesport Trophy Hurdle at Newbury.

Philip Hobbs will give Rooster Booster an alternative engagement in the Agfa Hurdle at Sandown next weekend.

ESSEX, winner of the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown earlier this month, is ante-post favourite to complete a famous double in the totesport Trophy at Newbury on February 12.

Philip Hobbs today expressed himself “delighted” with Rooster Booster after the gelding’s gutsy performance in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

HARCHIBALD strengthened his position at the head of the Champion Hurdle market with what was in the end an impressive victory over Rooster Booster at Kempton yesterday.

IRISH raider Harchibald is an odds-on shot to make it two Grade Ones win on the bounce in the Stan James Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day.

HARCHIBALD, ante-post favourite for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle, secured his passage to Kempton for the Stan James Christmas Hurdle by delighting Noel Meade in a gallop yesterday morning.

Arcalis looks set to step up in class for the Stan James Christmas Hurdle at Kempton at Boxing Day rather than run in the novice event on the same card.

Back In Front staked his Champion Hurdle claims with victory in the totesport Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham this afternoon.

Former champion hurdler Rooster Booster will try for a second win in the totesport Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

NOEL MEADE is looking forward to his first runner at Newcastle today as Harchibald prepares to prove his mettle in the Pertemps “Fighting Fifth” Hurdle.

Monkerhostin is so well in on his form over hurdles that he has to be backed to defy his inexperience with victory in the £110,000 (€157,300) Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham tomorrow.

ROOSTER BOOSTER will try to give weight all-round in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday.

Rooster Booster, winner of the 2003 Smurfit Champion Hurdle, could reappear at Cheltenham next month.

Rooster Booster will not take his place in Saturday’s RHT 40th Anniversary Hurdle at Kempton.

Best Mate took top honours at the inaugural British Horseracing Board Jumps Racing Awards in London today.

ANYONE who doubted the quality of Hardy Eustace had their answer at Punchestown yesterday.

HARDY EUSTACE is fancied to confirm Cheltenham form with Rooster Booster in this afternoon’s Emo Oil Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

IRISH bookmakers cannot agree about the chances of Xenophon in the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National, with Paddy Power installing him 5-1 favourite and Cashmans going 14-1.

ROOSTER BOOSTER, runner-up to Sacundai in the Martell Cognac Aintree Hurdle 12 months ago, will bid to go one better in the Grade One contest tomorrow.