Rooster Booster, unforgettably triumphant 12 months ago, returns to Cheltenham tomorrow with the very best chance of re-writing the script and landing his second Smurfit Champion Hurdle on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.

Trained by Philip Hobbs and the mount of Richard Johnson, Rooster Booster is one of four reigning champions returning to the Cotswolds to defend their crown. And all four - Moscow Flyer, Baracouda and Best Mate are the others - are short-priced favourites to produce repeat triumphs.

An 11-length winner of last year's race, Rooster Booster looks no worse a horse now than he was then, his latest effort, when beaten a whisker by Geos in the Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury, when attempting to give away lumps of weight to every one of his rivals, being the best performance seen over hurdles this season.

Geos faces a tough call trying to confirm his superiority on level terms tomorrow, and the two main dangers to Rooster Booster appear to be Rigmarole and Intersky Falcon. Favourite backers, however, will be hoping there are no dangers at all, and that the popular grey can produce another copybook performance.

Malton owner Maurice Foxton has good prospects of hitting the jackpot with his first Festival runner, Hidden Bounty, in the Pertemps Hurdle Final.

But, much as I fancy the chances of the Mary Reveley-trained gelding, a previous course winner and succesful at Newcastle last time, I am awarding my Nap vote to one of his Irish rivals.

Keepatem, trained by Edward O'Grady for JP McManus, an owner who likes nothing better than Festival success, looks to have been laid-out for this race.

One run this season, when finishing a close-up third in a Pertemps qualifier at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting is the sum total of Keepatem's exertions, but the gelding now looks ready to strike.

A useful handicapper, and the mount of David Casey, Keepatem will do for me as a first-day banker at around 6-1.

Ireland can also take first blood at the meeting, courtesy of Brave Inca, who has gone from strength to strength over hurdles this season.

Colm Murphy's determined gelding is unbeaten in three races and, with Lingo and Sadlers Wings out of the reckoning, he should not be overlooked in the Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

The Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase promises to be one of the best races of the season, with Thisthatandtother clashing with Irish challenger Kicking King, not to mention Caracciola and Our Armageddon, all of whom boast high-class form.

My marginal preference, at the odds available, is for prolific winner Our Armageddon, a lively 10-1 shot, who represents Co Durham trainer Richard Guest. Larry McGrath takes the mount as usual, on a horse who looks good each-way value.

Haut Cercy, narrowly beaten in the William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase last year, has every chance of going one better this time.

The wide-open Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Chase offers Prominent Profile, a previous course winner, a good opportunity to live up to his name.

Tuesday's tips:

Cheltenham

2.00 Brave Inca, 2.40 Our Armageddon, 3.20 Rooster Booster, 4.00 Haut Cercy, 4.40 Prominent Profile, 5.20 Keepatem (Nap).

Sedgefield

1.40 Bonnie Parker, 2.15 Shady Grey, 2.50 Lazy But Lively, 3.30 Arthurs Kingdom, 4.10 Stormhill Stag, 4.50 Go Nomadic, 5.30 Upswing.

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Sedgefield and Southwell.

Tom O'Ryan's Nap for this afternoon's racing was: Claude Greengrass (4.10 at Stratford).

Updated: 12:39 Monday, March 15, 2004