Bula for Rooster Booster
Philip Hobbs today revealed that Rooster Booster will run in the totesport Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham on December 11.
The 2003 champion hurdler took the Grade Two contest two years ago and did little wrong on his return to action at Prestbury Park last month when, giving weight away all round, he finished fourth to Accordion Etoile in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle.
“The Bula is the plan for him if everything goes all right until next weekend,” said Hobbs.
“I was very pleased with him in the Greatwood – I thought he ran very well for his first outing of the season and off top weight. He’s come out of that race in good order and is fine.”
Hobbs could also be triple-handed in the feature chase on the same day, the bonusprint.com Gold Cup, with Monkerhostin, Farmer Jack and Supreme Prince.
The former is still leniently handicapped on his hurdles form and finished third to Celestial Gold over course and distance in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month.
Farmer Jack fell two from home, when in touch during that race, and the following weekend he was second to Le Roi Miguel in the Peterborough Chase.
“Monkerhostin and probably Farmer Jack are likely to run, and they could be joined by Supreme Prince,” said Hobbs.
“I hope that Monkerhostin would have a very good chance in the race, he’s in good order and is fine.
“Farmer Jack ran very well at Huntingdon after having had an awful fall in the Paddy Power. He’s in good form and, due to lack of opportunities, I think he’ll probably run again.”
Supreme Prince returned to winning ways when taking a handicap chase at Newbury last Saturday when getting the better of Claymore by three-quarters of a length.
“He ran a great race at Newbury – the handicapper put him up 8lb for that win and he’s got a 6lb penalty for the bonusprint so it’s neither here nor there whether he runs at Cheltenham or somewhere else,” Hobbs continued.
“I obviously haven’t looked very hard for another race for him and I’m not quite sure what he’ll do but he could well run at Cheltenham.”
