ROHAUT PLEASED WITH GUN'N ROSES

Trainer Francois Rohaut reports Gun`n Roses to have jumped well as he tasted English hurdles for the first time at Toby Balding`s Fyfield stables this morning.

And the French trainer is now hoping Sandown`s meeting tomorrow passes a 7.30am inspection to allow the five-year-old to run in the Agfa Hurdle.

The gelding finished third in the Grade One Prix Renaud du Vivier at Auteuil in November on his last appearance, with one of tomorrow`s rivals, the Francois Doumen-trained Bounce Back, two and a half lengths ahead in second.

He said today: 'It went all right. The horse jumped well over about 12 hurdles and it was a good exercise.

'We are worried about the weather because we want to give him a race.

'I haven`t thought about another race for him and I will have to have a look. I don`t worry about the going, he has won on heavy at Auteuil.'

Gun`n Roses has been the subject of a gamble in the market for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle, inspired by a tipster in the racing press this week, which has seen his odds tumble to 25-1 from 100-1 with Ladbrokes.

However, Rohaut warned: 'I wouldn`t back him before tomorrow`s race.

'We want to see how he runs tomorrow before we decide whether to go for the Champion Hurdle.

'It is a challenge for us, the owner and for me and if he ran a bad race we would not run in the Champion Hurdle.

'He is only five and has plenty of time.

'He is one of the best five-year-olds in France so with all the French horses running so well in England we hope he can run a good race.'

Other runners in tomorrow`s race include Geos, Hors La Loi III and Teaatral.

Stablemate Bilboque also worked at Balding`s yard and is set to run a week tomorrow to assess his Cheltenham prospects.

'Bilboque also schooled this morning,' Rohaut added.

'He will run at Newbury next weekend in a novice hurdle to see if he can run in the Supreme Novices` Hurdle.'