WITH Richard Johnson sidelined with injury, Timmy Murphy takes over the ride on nap selection Rooster Booster in the £70,000 Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham tomorrow on the third and final day of the Paddy Power Open meeting.

The former Champion Hurdle-winner, who finished second in last year's title defence, benefits from waiting tactics and Murphy is at his best when riding such a race. The new combination could well hit it off famously and, although Rooster Booster is set to concede weight all round, he has the class to emerge triumphant.

Fundamentalist, widely regarded as a rising star in the chasing ranks, gets a chance to shine when the classy six-year-old lines-up for the Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase over two miles.

He is expected to display his burgeoning prowess over the major obstacles.

A high-ranking novice hurdler last season, Fundamentalist made his chasing debut at Perth seven weeks ago and lived up to all the hype by winning easily under Carl Llewellyn, who has the mount again tomorrow.

My Will, winner of both his completed starts over fences, will give Fundamentalist a tough test, but Nigel Twiston-Davies' exciting prospect is fancied to come out on top and prove to everyone that he is a name to note this season.

Jonjo O'Neill was dealt a disappointing blow here yesterday when The Rising Moon failed to justify hefty support.

Tomorrow is another day and O'Neill has good prospects of setting the record straight with Monte Vista in the Jets-Griffin Richard Davies Award Novices' Hurdle.

Like The Rising Moon, Monte Vista was an easy winner at last month's Aintree meeting. He meets tougher opposition tomorrow, but looks an exciting performer in the making.

Whatever O'Neill's fate at Cheltenham, the trainer has a great chance of lifting the featured £60,000 Edward Hanmer Chase at Haydock with Keen Leader.

A top-flight horse on his day, Keen Leader seems to reserve his best for big-jumping venues like Haydock and was a hugely-impressive winner over this course and distance last season. He promises to take all the beating, despite the presence of Chives, a useful gelding, who is having his first run for Sue Smith, having previously been trained by Henrietta Knight.

Irish raider Like A Bee, trained by Christy Roche, is an interesting contender in the Kingsmark Novices' Chase, while Settrington trainer John Quinn has more than a fighting chance of lifting the Rectangle Group Novices' Hurdle with Adjawar.

Saturday's tips:

Cheltenham

1-00 Monte Vista, 1-35 Red Ruffles, 2-05 Fundamentalist, 2-40 Rooster Booster (NAP), 3-15 Cigarillo, 3-50 Django

Haydock

1-20 Adjawar, 1-55 Like A Bee, 2-25 Dancing Pearl, 2-55 Keen Leader, 3-30 Pardini, 4-00 Eskimo Pie.

Fontwell

12.40 Appach, 1.10 Kaparolo, 1.45 Manly Money, 2.15 Qabas, 2.50 El Hombre Del Rio, 3.25 Geography, 3.55 Walcot Lad.

There are no other meetings tomorrow.

Updated: 10:28 Saturday, November 13, 2004