Rooster Booster, who has developed his talents through the handicap ranks, can enhance his claims as a genuine Champion Hurdle contender at Cheltenham tomorrow.

The eight-year-old, trained by Philip Hobbs, lines-up for the £75,000 Victor Chandler Bula Hurdle and is expected to take all the beating.

Winner of the County Hurdle over this course and and distance in March, Rooster Booster gained a repeat victory last month and, in between, also scored at Kempton.

A horse who has grown in stature and confidence in the past year, Rooster Booster can prove he is still on a high by lifting this prestigious prize - and booking his place in the Champion field.

The £100,000 Tripleprint Gold Cup Handicap Chase is the richest race on the televised card, and Cyfor Malta will surely make a bold bid to defy top-weight, following his success here in last month's Thomas Pink Gold Cup.

The gelding races off a hefty 10lb higher mark this time, but the job centre is full of punters who have paid dearly for opposing Martin Pipe's horses when they are on a roll.

Don Fernando (1.25), another trained by Pipe, and the progressive Supreme Catch (1.55) also make stacks of appeal on a cracking Cheltenham card.

At Haydock, Kingsmark is the one they've all got to beat in the £50,000 Tommy Whittle Chase.

Martin Todhunter's course specialist won the Edward Hanmer Chase here for a third year in succession last month and seems better than ever at the age of nine.

Peter Beaumont's Bobby Grant, another course specialist, and third to Kingsmark here last time, ranks as a major danger again, but Todhunter's stable-star is expected to confirm his superiority.

Brian Rothwell has a promising recruit to jumping in Always Rainbows, who can prove his long-priced success at Wetherby last month was no fluke by following-up in the Saint Ciel Novices' Hurdle.

A winner three times on the Flat in Ireland for Kevin Prendergast, Always Rainbows will again have the assistance of Anthony Ross.

Junkanoo (1.50) and Ingenu (3.30), two previous course winners, are also worth noting.

At Doncaster, it would be unwise to overlook the chances of Skillwise in the featured Worthington's Creamflow Neville Crump Memorial Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles.

Tim Easterby's gelding, a course and distance winner last season, was far from disgraced at Aintree last time and will relish tomorrow's quicker going. David O'Meara will be on board.

Nap selection Europa, trained at Hazlewood near Tadcaster by Tom Tate, can prove his class in the Vulrory's Clown Handicap Chase.

The lack of a recent race should not count too heavily against this talented six-year-old, who promises to develop into a high-class performer this season.

In the Worthington's 1744 Sea Pigeon Handicap Hurdle, the bold-jumping and fast-jumping Benbyas should give backers a good run for their money.

Tomorrow's tips

Cheltenham

12.15 Classified, 12.50 Kadarann, 1.25 Don Fernando, 1.55 Supreme Catch, 2.30 Cyfor Malta, 3.05 Rooster Booster, 3.40 Ad Hoc.

Haydock

12.10 Nowell House, 12.45 Always Rainbows, 1.20 Monarch's Pursuit, 1.50 Junkanoo, 2.20 Kingsmark, 2.55 Vol Solitaire, 3.30 Ingenu.

Doncaster

11.55 Rose d'April, 12.25 Johnson's Point, 1.00 Silvertown, 1.35 Skillwise, 2.10 Fireaway, 2.45 Europa (Nap), 3.20 Benbyas.

Updated: 14:51 Friday, December 13, 2002