BARACOUDA has been installed as the red-hot 1-3 favourite by Cashmans to record a fourth success in the Telectronics Long Walk Hurdle at Windsor on Saturday.

Connections of Baracouda are looking forward to the brilliant Frenchman gracing Windsor at the weekend when he bids for a fourth victory in the Long Walk Hurdle.

Batman Senora could return to action in the John Smith’s Hurdle at Wetherby on Saturday.

Iris’s Gift, the game winner of Cheltenham’s bonusprint.com Stayers’ Hurdle, is the star on show in the opening race of Aintree’s three-day Grand National meeting tomorrow.

MARTIN PIPE yesterday leapt to the defence of Tony McCoy over the incident at Cheltenham yesterday which resulted in the champion jockey being banned for five days for hitting Deano’s Beeno 50 times in order to get the gelding to start.

Martin Pipe today leapt to the defence of Tony McCoy over the incident at Cheltenham yesterday which resulted in the champion jockey being banned for five days for hitting Deano’s Beeno 50 times in order to get the gelding to start.

Champion jockey Tony McCoy faces a week off early in the New Year after being hit with a five-day suspension for improper riding at Cheltenham today.