Racing: Rooster left unruffled by narrow win

Bookies ease Champion Hurdle hope after unimpressive display as Rhinestone sparkles in treble for O'Neill

Rooster Booster duly won his Champion Hurdle trial at Sandown yesterday, but neither the style nor the substance of his victory particularly impressed the watching bookmakers' representatives and the grey lost his place at the head of the Cheltenham lists with most firms. However, those closest to the horse – trainer Philip Hobbs, owner Terry Warner and jockey Richard Johnson – were perfectly satisfied with his half-length defeat of Self Defense and the team heads for the title bout five weeks on Tuesday with its collective ears still pricked in keen anticipation.

The Agfa Hurdle was a perfect illustration of the folly of applying cutesie, anthropomorphic sentiments to horses. Knowledge of the whereabouts of the winning post and the ability to win without help from the saddle are two such attributes frequently heard, but it was quite plain that, left to his own devices, Rooster Booster would not have cared a jot if Self Defense had passed him on the run-in.

That is not to decry the gelding's gameness; since he has matured to his full strength, he has been a model of consistency and resolution, to the extent that he is four for four this season. But after his superior class had taken him scything through the field to hit the front, his pale coat splattered skewbald by gobbets of mud, two hurdles from home he showed himself disinclined to volunteer further effort, even against inferior opposition, and that tendency to idle was almost his undoing. But to the nine-year-old's credit, as soon as Johnson reminded him what was required as Self Defense drew upsides on the testing uphill run to the line, he responded willingly and easily.

"He settled nicely in behind," said Johnson, "but was a bit keen when they steadied on the bend and that took him to the front before I really wanted. The ground was not ideal for any horse to quicken away, but when the other one came he had no problem in going on again. I suppose you couldn't be impressed visually, but I'm not disappointed."

The fast pace of the Champion Hurdle will be more conducive to Rooster Booster's preferred late-as-possible thrust. "He found what was needed and got the job done where it mattered today," said Hobbs, "and although he was pretty fit, the main race is in five weeks."

Rooster Booster has been deposed as Champion Hurdle favourite – by as much as two points by Hills, who now have him at 11-2 – in favour of Intersky Falcon, trained by Jonjo O'Neill.

Away from Sandown, it was O'Neill's day, with doubles at both Wetherby and Uttoxeter, and one of his pair at the West Yorkshire track, Rhinestone Cowboy, may yet provide the Irishman with an embarrassment of riches at Cheltenham. Despite a blunder at the penultimate flight, first-season hurdler Rhinestone Cowboy hardly had to come off the bridle as he maintained his unbeaten record over obstacles.

The exciting seven-year-old, who carries Sue Magnier's navy colours, holds an entry against his seniors in the Champion itself, as well as the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, a more conventional target for one of his tender experience. "I'd rather go the novice route myself," said O'Neill, "but I'm not the one who pays the bills. And I will say, when I see a horse like this, that I wish I still had a licence to ride."

Rhinestone Cowboy's successful stablemates were, at Wetherby, Keen Leader, who confirmed himself one of the brightest recruits to the novice staying chasing division with a runaway success in the Towton Novices' Chase, and, at Uttoxeter, Iris's Gift in the Classic Novices' Hurdle and Mini Sensation in the National Trial.

The ground at the Staffordshire track was barely raceable and the opening race provided the unedifying sight of Iris's Gift's pursuers reduced to exhaustion. But then, engine burn-out is only to be expected when Minis take on a Rolls – the winner is heading for the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle.

Despite his eponymous size, Mini Sensation revels in heavy ground and extreme distances, and stayed on dourly to take Ardent Scout two fences from home for a 12-length victory. Both horses have the Grand National, for which the weights will be announced on Tuesday, as their target.

Two of Martin Pipe's well-fancied Uttoxeter runners, Jurancon and Stormez, had to miss their races after their horsebox broke down en route, but the master trainer found compensation at Sandown, where Tarxien outstayed Farmer Jack from the final fence to take the day's Grade One contest, the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase. Both classy young horses are Cheltenham-bound. Tarxien is a likely Cathcart contender and Farmer Jack a live challenger for the Arkle Chase over half a mile less than yesterday's race.

The sport at Esher went ahead only after three inspections, the latest at noon, and no one was more delighted than new trainer Chris Gethin, who took a fine scalp as his 50-1 shot Eskleybrook gave him a win with his first runner under permit. The 10-year-old, who broke five ribs at Liverpool last spring, and amateur David Mansell, who was riding his first winner under rules, upset no less than the Pipe-trained Tiutchev and Tony McCoy in the two-mile handicap.