Racing News round-up: Georges Girl, who ran a cracking race to be second in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle last time out, is all set to tackle Rooster Booster in the Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury at the weekend.

"I am planning to run her at Newbury as long as the ground is soft," trainer Francis Flood said yesterday. "She is entered at Gowran Park as well, but that was just to be on the safe side, just in case the ground dried up. She is in good form and is very well, but she just needs soft ground."

Georges Girl finished a head second to Foreman in the Leopardstown Grade One event last time out and was closing all the way to the line.

"I was more than pleased with her effort, but I'd be more pleased if Rooster Booster wasn't running this time as he leaves us wrong in the handicap (9st 3lb)," said Flood.

"However, her form looks very good. She was second to Brave Inca, who stayed on very well at Leopardstown on Sunday to win a Grade One. My son Fran will ride again on Saturday."

Nicky Henderson, whose record in the Trophy in recent years is second to none, spoke confidently about the chances of Geos in Saturday's contest.

The master of Seven Barrows has won the race three times in the last six years, including with Geos in 2000, and was second with Non So 12 months ago.

Of his trio of entries for this year's renewal, only Geos is set to be in the handicap proper thanks to the presence of Rooster Booster at the top of the weights.

"I think everybody is underestimating Geos, who isn't badly handicapped on his very best form," said Henderson. "Marcus Foley will ride him and Andrew Tinkler will be on Saintsaire, because his claim cancels out the fact that he is out of the handicap."

As the market for the Newbury contest hotted up yesterday, it was last year's Smurfit Champion Hurdle fourth Self Defense who was cut by the bookmakers. The sponsors slashed the seven-year-old to 16 to 1 from 25s, while Ladbrokes went 18 to 1 from 20s.

The only other significant market mover was the Martin Pipe-trained Westender, who has not raced since being pulled up in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.

William Hill go 16 to 1 from 25s, with Ladbrokes cutting his odds to 20 to 1 from 33s.

Connections of Limerick Boy report that the six-year-old "worked well" yesterday morning ahead of his crack at the race.

The Venetia Williams-trained challenger, who got the better of Perouse in a stirring finish to the the Tote Scoop6 Lanzarote Hurdle last month, was yesterday installed 6 to 1 joint-favourite with the sponsors for the Newbury race. He shares the head of the market with Rooster Booster.

"We could not be happier with Limerick Boy and providing everything goes well between now and Saturday, he will run at Newbury," said Graham Skeats, racing manager for owners Favourites Racing.

"He will be running off his correct mark, which is a big plus. He worked well this morning and looks in great shape."

Limerick Boy will again be partnered by rising star Sam Thomas.

The Hughie Morrison-trained Tom Paddington will be racing from out of the handicap on 9st 5lb on Saturday.

With regular partner Jim Culloty unavailable, Timmy Murphy is likely to ride.