Bookies mopping brows as Rooster cooked

THE savaging the bookies got at Cheltenham last year looked like tormenting them for a second year when Brave Inca won the opening Supreme Novices here yesterday.

However, when Rooster Booster was beaten in the Champion Hurdle, many layers mopped their brows as the prospect of the dreaded 'quad' gambled on by millions of punters evaporated.

The worst nightmare was that the four reigning champions competing here again this year Moscow Flyer, Baracouda, Best Mate and Rooster Booster would win again. The fall-out would be terrible.