And there was a clear signal from Haydock Park that Iris’s Gift, runner-up on his seasonal reappearance, would be a threat to the supremacy of Baracouda in the bonusprint.com Stayers’ Hurdle.

It was the third time in four years that Rooster Booster had finished second in the £125,000 Newbury handicap hurdle, but he displayed class and guts in abundance as he succumbed to the flying finish of Geos (16-1) in the last stride.

Rooster Booster was giving all his rivals at least 13lb and conceded 17lb to the Marcus Foley-ridden winner, so the merit of his performance was clear to see.

Trainer Philip Hobbs had always argued that the big field and guaranteed fast pace would suit the champion, and so it proved.

The nine-year-old Geos also took the race four years ago and was giving Nicky Henderson his fourth win in seven years.

The trainer said: “He is one of those wonderful horses that never lets you down. When Philip Hobbs said two days before the entries closed that he was going to run Rooster Booster, I put him in straight away.

“If he hadn’t I probably wouldn’t have bothered – it isn’t fair to keep asking him to lump top-weight around in good handicaps.”

A delighted Hobbs said: “I am chuffed to bits. It is a relief that he has run so well, although Richard (Johnson) is gutted and felt that if they hadn’t stopped as quickly after turning in, it might have been a different story. As it was, he found himself in front a little sooner than ideal.”

The gallant 10-year-old’s odds for the Champion Hurdle were inevitably cut and he is now a best-priced 2-1 with Paddy Power.

The other Newbury display that oozed class was that of Azertyuiop, who bolstered his claims for the Queen Mother Champion Chase when toying with his rivals in the Queen Mother Memorial Fund Game Spirit Chase.

The Paul Nicholls-trained star cruised to a 12-length victory over stablemate Armaturk to set up a mouthwatering clash with Moscow Flyer at the Festival.

“That was just the job,” said Nicholls. “He’s quick and improving and I’ve still got a bit to work on before the Festival.

“Some people wrote him off after Moscow Flyer beat him at Sandown, but I think he’s improved since then, and roll on Cheltenham.

“Last year he was never given a race over fences and he’s a big, stuffy individual who requires plenty of work. Today he was tight and mean, which is the way he’ll need to be next month.”

Keen Leader did nothing to advertise his Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup claims when staying on to be a close third to Shooting Light (33-1) and Irish Hussar in the Aon Chase.

He made a couple of mistakes and appeared unhappy on the good ground.

Trainer Jonjo O’Neill said: “He ran well and was closest at the line, but I don’t want to make excuses. He’s a good horse and he should have won.”

Sir Rembrandt dropped out of Gold Cup calculations when finishing a distant sixth.

O’Neill had better news from Haydock, where Iris’s Gift remains on course for a rematch with Baracouda after a promising comeback.

The grey, who pushed the French superstar all the way in the last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle, had to settle for second place behind stablemate Tardar in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Qualifier.

However, after 10 months on the sidelines following a summer setback, the seven-year-old did more than enough to suggest he will again be a major player at the Festival.

He was giving away upwards of 25lb to the rest of the field, and jockey Barry Geraghty said: “You’ve got to be pleased with that for a first run back on that ground, and with that much weight.

“He jumped superbly all the way round and was in with every chance as we entered the straight.”

King Revo could also go to Cheltenham with a live chance in the JCB Triumph Hurdle after swooping late to win the Victor Ludorum Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle.

Star of the show at Gowran was Georges Girl, who repaid Francis Flood’s decision to bypass the Tote Gold Trophy by winning the Red Mills Trial Hurdle by a short head from Hardy Eustace, who tried to make all.

Dessie Hughes, trainer of the runner-up, described a Smurfit Champion Hurdle bid as “probable”.

Last year’s Martell Cognac Grand National hero Monty’s Pass made his reappearance after a 150-day break in the Thomas M Byrne & Sons Auctioneers Handicap Hurdle.

He finished last of the 20 runners behind Bodakker and trainer Jimmy Mangan said: “He couldn’t handle the ground as it is like a glue-pot, but Garrett (Cotter) said he showed plenty of life. He’ll go next for a novice hurdle, possibly at Down Royal.”

Solerina’s absence took the gloss of the McCabe Builders Ltd Boyne Hurdle at Navan on Sunday and Rosaker made the most of it by cantering up to land odds of 1-5, booking his ticket to the Stayers’ Hurdle.