Hobbs forced to scrap Rooster County Hurdle plan

PHILIP HOBBS was fuming yesterday after being reminded of a rule change that means he has had to scrap plans to run Rooster Booster in two races at Cheltenham.

The Minehead trainer had hoped to run the popular grey in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle next Tuesday and again in the Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle, the last race of the Festival on the Friday.

That will not happen now as Rooster Booster, winner of the County in 2002 and the Champion in 2003, would be lumbered with 12st 7lb or more, and not his present 11st 12lb, in the handicap.