Dual Smurfit Champion Hurdle winner Hardy Eustace is down to 5-2 with totesport for a third success in the Cheltenham event after fellow Irish raider Feathard Lady was finally ruled out.

Colm Murphy hopes to know more in the next week about the prospects of his unbeaten Feathard Lady making it to Cheltenham for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.

Lingo is likely to advertise his Smurfit Champion Hurdle credentials in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton on February 18.

Intersky Falcon will face seven rivals when he bids for his third victory in the Stan James Christmas Hurdle at Sandown Park on Boxing Day.

Lingo has been ruled out of the Stan James Christmas Hurdle at Sandown on Boxing Day.

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.

BARACOUDA will miss the totesport Long Walk Hurdle at Windsor on Saturday after an administrative error at Francois Doumen's yard ruled the French ace out of this weekend's showpiece.

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.