Rooster returns with shock defeat
Cheltenham’s crowded grandstands were stunned into silence as champion hurdler Rooster Booster trailed home fifth in his comeback race.
The grey, sent off the 8-13 favourite for the Tote Bula Hurdle, looked as well and happy as ever as he lobbed along in the rear under Richard Johnson in the early stages.
But the seven-strong field was never going much of a gallop and it soon became obvious that the race was going to develop into a sprint up the hill.
Johnson appeared to become aware of this as he suddenly switched Rooster Booster towards the inside of the track, forcing his mount to race on the worst of the ground, and sent him to dispute the lead approaching the final flight.
But a poor jump suddenly saw Rooster Booster surrender the advantage as his rivals, who had raced to the last almost line abreast, showed greater acceleration.
It was 25-1 chance Rigmarole, Paul Nicholls’ much-improved performer, who successfully stepped up in class to complete a 428-1 first-ever Cheltenham treble for jockey Robert Thornton.
The jockey had received the call-up when regular rider Ruby Walsh opted to ride the runner-up, Davenport Millennium.
Rigmarole will now understandably be trained for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle, where his high cruising speed will no doubt serve him well.
But the bookmakers’ attitude to what the form is worth can be adequately measured by his price, with Victor Chandler going 20-1 and a best offer of 25s from Cashmans.
Rooster Booster, meanwhile, can be backed at 9-2 with the latter firm and the Tote, with most layers now favouring today’s Haydock scorer Rhinestone Cowboy as their market leader.
But trainer Philip Hobbs was not in a despondent frame of mind, despite the setback.
He said: “Richard said he felt in terrific form, but there was no pace at all. It turned into a sprint and it just did not suit us.
“The main thing is he seems to be fine. Kempton is not his ideal track, but the Christmas Hurdle may have to be his next race.
“He’s not the sort of horse you want to be wrapping up in cotton wool. He needs to be kept on the go to keep him fit.
“If Intersky Falcon runs there [which is Jonjo O’Neill’s intention] and sets a good pace, that would be ideal, but we might think about running a pacemaker.
“I was just thinking that we should have run Do l’Enfant d’Eau in the race, instead of earlier in the afternoon. But it’s all very well thinking of these things afterwards!”
Rigmarole could now make a quick reappearance in the Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot next weekend, with stablemate Sporazene already earmarked for Kempton, according to Nicholls.
He escapes a penalty but would have to lumber top-weight of 11st 12lb and the sponsors make him a 3-1 chance.
“Sometimes horses improve so much that they just keep surprising you,” Nicholls said. “I was worried about the ground, and the fact that they went no pace was no help either.
“But he is just improving so rapidly and in the paddock before I thought I’d never seen him looking so well.
“I tried all week to persuade Ruby to ride him, but it is very difficult for him to keep everybody happy and he chose Davenport Millennium.”
The runner-up’s trainer, Willie Mullins, was pleased with his charge, who made a more-than-satisfactory start to his season.
“He idled in front having had to make the running on ground which wouldn’t have seen him at his best anyway,” he said. “I’m absolutely delighted.”
Mullins’ charge, beaten only a length by the winner, is a 16-1 chance with Victor Chandler and Ladbrokes for the Champion Hurdle.
