Sandown Beckons For Rooster Rooster Booster could be set for another crack at the Stan James Christmas Hurdle at Sandown on Boxing Day. The popular 11-year-old would be tackling the two-mile race for the third successive year after finishing second to Harchibald and Intersky Falcon in 2004 and 2003 respectively. Rooster Booster disappointed last time when failing to cut any ice in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham but the handicapper has relented a little as a result of that 14th place. However, trainer Philip Hobbs is eyeing another try at the Grade One feature before possibly dropping back to handicap company. The Minehead handler said: 'He´s fine and as there is no handicap available to him this side of Christmas, I guess we´ll end up running him in the Christmas Hurdle at Sandown and hopefully there won´t be many Irish runners in it. 'He´s been dropped 4lb to a mark of 156 which means we can always look to the handicap route in the New Year.'(C) PA Sport
