Rooster boosts Haydock field

Rooster Booster tops a field of 13 for Saturday’s Stanleybet Handicap Hurdle at Haydock, where he is set for a rematch with Royal Shakespeare.

Philip Hobbs’ veteran grey picked up his first victory for over a year at Sandown last month in the Concept Hurdle, but he looked to have a fight on his hands with the Steve Gollings-trained Royal Shakespeare, who was travelling strongly before falling two from home.

The two-mile handicap, formerly known as the Swinton, has attracted two entries each from Martin Pipe (Fontanesi, Penny Pictures) and Gary Moore (Stance, Nawamees), while other leading contenders look to be two Aintree winners, Peter Bowen’s prolific Genghis, and Irish raider Definite Spectacle.

The field is completed by Torrid Kentavr, Perouse, Crossbow Creek, Coat of Honour and Cherub.