Racing: Rooster leaves fledglings behind

Cheltenham Festival: Mature nine-year-old captures Champion Hurdle as young pretenders Rhinestone and Intersky are outclassed by pace

The fledglings fell out of the nest and the old bird won here yesterday as Rooster Booster produced a triumph for experience in the Champion Hurdle on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival. In the new post-Istabraq era this was meant to be the race in which the overflowing youthful talent of either Rhinestone Cowboy or Intersky Falcon, both trained locally by Jonjo O'Neill, was to find its ultimate expression.

Yet the Cotswolds yesterday was the place for the supposedly more yeoman qualities possessed by Rooster Booster. There was nothing mundane, however, about the manner of victory for Philip Hobbs' grey. From some way out he was the obvious winner, clearly the best hurdler in these islands and certainly the most improved.

At the age of nine, Rooster Booster has emerged as the mature student at the head of the class. Such was his clean kill yesterday that it is possible to see him running against the current trend in the Champion Hurdle and beating another crop of young, fast horses next season. William Hill offer 4-1 about that eventuality. We might be back in the good old days. "I know horses do not often win the Champion Hurdle at the age of 10, but Sea Pigeon did," Hobbs said. "Maybe we can be the next Sea Pigeon."

O'Neill's pair were an item around the parade ring yesterday. Intersky Falcon, in his black blinkers, looked small enough to be the relative of a pit pony. Rhinestone Cowboy, just behind him, was barely more substantial. The imposing figure was the Irish mare, Like-A-Butterfly, who was more like a battering ram. Rooster Booster had bandages behind and a rather apologetic look and sad eyes.

It was a most unsatisfactory send-off. Westender and Holy Orders were left at the start, while Hors La Loi III's defence of his crown ended before it had started and in disgrace as he refused to budge. Intersky Falcon, as expected, was soon at the helm, pinging away with his grasshopper springs. Like-A-Butterfly and Copeland settled in some way behind, and, by the second hurdle, the sirens were going off for Rhinestone Cowboy. He hit that obstacle hard and was never the same afterwards. He began to feel what a real race was like.

Intersky Falcon was eight lengths clear down the back, but it gradually became apparent that Richard Johnson, in his bumble bee colours, was sitting on a considerable keg in Rooster Booster. "I was happy to be upsides Norman [Williamson on the favourite Rhinestone Cowboy] at the back and see that the pace of the race was getting to him," the jockey said. "The pace today showed that he is still a novice. Intersky Falcon was obviously the other one I was worried about but I also didn't want to hit the front too soon."

Soon that option was taken out of Johnson's hands. His mount countermanded the instructions and quickly joined the leader. Rather unnaturally, the Rooster fell upon the Falcon. "He dragged me there," Johnson said. "He's a bit wooden-headed, but it's hard to complain when he keeps going like that. He's a jockey's dream."

When Johnson released the handbrake at the entrance to the straight, the response was embarrassing. To the rest of the field at least. Rooster Booster scampered 11 lengths clear of the fast-finshing Westender. It was a further three back to Rhinestone Cowboy.

The Martin Pipe-pairing of Copeland and Iberus fell independently three from home. Tony McCoy, the partner of the latter, had also gone to ground on Le Roi Miguel in the previous Arkle Chase and determined that after two falls it was time for a submission. He missed his remaining rides as he was also suffering from dehydration, but is expected to take up the cudgel once again today.

Hobbs and Rooster Booster's owner, Terry Warner, may be affected by a similar condition following their celebrations last night at the Hare and Hounds in Westonbirt. Warner has learned not to get stewed up by racing since he suffered a heart attack at Uttoxeter races eight years ago. He admitted to a peculiar calm, though, yesterday.

Hobbs would not get distressed if he saw a tidal wave coming up the Severn estuary towards his stables near Minehead. He only trembled a little bit yesterday. "Going to the last it really did look as if he had to win unless that last hurdle got in the way," he said. "I don't usually get stirred up in a race, but my binoculars did start to shake a bit then."

Hobbs was soon back to his reflective self. When his hat comes off it goes on the coatstand. "I suppose things slightly fell apart today because Rhinestone Cowboy didn't seem to run his race, but, hopefully, we'll be favourite for next year and Sea Pigeon won the race as a 10-year-old [in 1980 under Jonjo O'Neill]," he said.

"I don't appreciate these things until a long time afterwards rather than get too excited on the day of the race. It might happen later on after I've had a few drinks. I'm very surprised by how easily he has won."