Sandown option for Rooster

Philip Hobbs will give Rooster Booster an alternative engagement in the Agfa Hurdle at Sandown next weekend.

The 11-year-old is also entered in the totesport Trophy Hurdle at Newbury on February 12, a race he finished second in last year, but Hobbs wil give him another option.

Rooster Booster, the 2003 champion hurdler, put up one of the weight-carrying performances of last season when shouldering 11st 12lb in the Newbury handicap to fail by just a short head to hold Geos.

He would have to carry top weight again this year and Hobbs is very much undecided about which route to take.

He said: “I want to see what the Agfa Hurdle looks like in terms of the opposition and the amount of runners as it is always more difficult for him in a small field when there is no pace, as was the case when he ran at Kempton over Christmas.”

Rooster Booster made the running in the Christmas Hurdle, holding a 25-length advantage at one stage, only to be denied by Harchibald on the run-in.

Owner Terry Warner will be holidaying in Tenerife next Saturday but Hobbs added: “That won’t stop him running although my other consideration with regard to Newbury is that we’ll get the strong pace he needs, taking stock of the fact that we’ll be giving away weight all round.

“It’s a tough choice and I’ll wait until Friday to make it.”