Booster denied win but Cheltenham odds shorten

Rooster Booster was denied victory in Newbury today, finishing second in the Tote Gold Trophy for the third time in four years.

Geos denied the popular grey an amazing success in the £125,000 (€185,000) race with a late lunge which stole the prize in the very final stride.

But although Geos is set to renew the rivalry with Rooster Booster in next month’s Smurfit Champion Hurdle, bookmakers make the runner-up as short as 6-4 to land the hurdling crown for the second year running after he so nearly managed to give a stone and upwards to all 24 of his rivals.

All along, Rooster Booster’s trainer Philip Hobbs had argued that the big field and guaranteed fast pace that he would get in this race would suit his charge, despite the weight concession.

And the grey’s loyal fan club certainly agreed as they got stuck into the second and sent him off the 9-2 favourite.

In truth, the race was everything that jumps fans could have wished it would be as turning for home, more than half of the field were still in with a chance.

Over the final flight, Rooster Booster seemed to be going strongly under Richard Johnson as he took the obstacle with at least six or seven of the runners contesting the lead.

But despite looking sure to score 100 yards from the finish as he edged ahead, it was 16-1 chance Geos and Marcus Foley who cut him down on the line to win by a short-head.

Geos, who also won the race four years ago, became both the oldest winner of the race as well as only the second horse to land the spoils twice.

Monkerhostin (20-1) kept on well to give Hobbs second and third, with Mughas (16-1) staying on from well off the pace to grab fourth ahead of Quazar and Westender.

Supporters of the well-fancied Limerick Boy soon knew their fate when he unseated his rider at the first.

Henderson, who was winning the race for the fourth time in seven years, said: “We always thought life was going to be very difficult for him. He won this four years ago and we’ve been chasing with him since.

“He is just one of those wonderful horses that never lets you down.

“The only real help we had was Rooster Booster. He’s let us into the handicap off a weight that Geos can run with.

“When Philip Hobbs said two days before the entries closed that he was going to run Rooster Booster, I put him in straight away. And credit to Philip for letting everybody know because if he hadn’t I probably wouldn’t have bothered - it isn’t fair to keep asking him to lump top-weight around in good handicaps.

“I can’t really believe he has won. Two out I was watching Saintsaire as he was going so well but then he got swallowed up and suddenly Geos appeared.”

Henderson spoke of his sympathy for stable jockey Mick Fitzgerald, who missed the winning ride as he is currently sidelined with a broken arm.

“Marcus has done everything right all the way though,” he said. “He’s always been very good, but I feel desperately sorry for Mick. He would have ridden Geos and Marcus would have ridden Saintsaire.”

Geos will now bid to give Nicky Henderson a fourth Champion Hurdle success, according to the winner’s syndicate manager James Stafford.

“We will definitely go for the Champion, provided that he is okay,” said Stafford.

“He has been fourth in the race, won the Bula and also finished third to Rooster Booster in the Bula last season.

“And if the ground happened to come up soft it could make things interesting.

“We were worried about the ground for him here. Nicky walked the course on Wednesday and was relieved when they watered the firm patches.”

Rooster Booster’s trainer Philip Hobbs was understandably delighted with his charge’s performance.

“I always thought that this was the right race for him to go for although if he had finished out of the first half-dozen it would have put the mockers on the Champion for him,” he said.

“We were very hopeful of a big run and in a sense it is a relief that he has run so well, although Richard is gutted and felt that if they hadn’t stopped as quickly after turning in it might have been a different story.

“As it was, he found himself in front a little sooner than ideal.”

Ladbrokes and Paddy Power are now best-priced about the gallant 10-year-old’s Champion prospects at 2-1 with William Hill and the Tote just 6-4.

“I am chuffed to bits – although obviously I would have preferred to win - and what we get for coming second here is the same as if he had won one of the Champion Hurdle trials,” Hobbs smiled.

“Now, he will be turned out at home and have an easy week.”