Baracoudahot fancy for Long Walk win
The brilliant French horse will face a maximum of nine rivals in the Grade One showpiece, which will be run at the Thamesside track for the first time with regular venue Ascot under rubble as it continues a multi-million pound redevelopment.
“Baracouda will definitely run at Windsor,” trainer Francois Doumen said yesterday. “He’s come out of his run at Newbury in superb form and I’m very happy with him.”
The nine-year-old had champion jockey Tony McCoy on board for the first time when he made his seasonal debut in the Long Distance Hurdle last month.
He had three-quarters of a length to spare over Alan King’s Crystal D’Ainay that day, with the runner-up set to reoppose at the weekend.
Frank Berry, racing manager to Baracouda’s owner JP McManus added: “It’s always hard to judge with him because he doesn’t do a lot in front, but I think the second is an improving, up-and-coming horse and he’d be entitled to put it up to him.
“Tony got on fine with him and he came out of the race well. Francois is very happy with him and we’re looking forward to seeing him again.”
Baracouda and Crystal D’Ainay were two of the 10 left in the £75,000 feature at today’s confirmation stage, together with Geos, Ilnamar, It Takes Time, Rule Supreme, Sh Boom, Telemoss, Newbury third Kadara and Knock Down.
The Nicky Richards-trained Telemoss beat Crystal D’Ainay in the John Smith’s Hurdle at Wetherby in October and was fourth to Baracouda at Newbury, a position he occupied behind the same horse in the Stayers’ Hurdle of 2002.
“We’re not sure yet whether Telemoss will run - we’ll see as the week goes on what we’re going to do with him,” the Penrith handler said.
“It depends whether the race is going to cut up a little bit or whether there is going to be any rain - we’ll just weigh everything up as we go through the week.
“He seems in good form and he’s come out of Newbury well - I thought the ground was just a bit quick for him there.
“He was fourth in the Stayers’ Hurdle in 2002 when beaten just over 10 lengths by Baracouda and he got beat about that the other day by him. That’s probably as good as he is compared to Baracouda.”
The ground at Windsor is currently described as good.
Clerk of the course David Mackinnon said: “The forecast is for it to stay dry until Wednesday, when there should be some rain.
“After Wednesday the weather is set to be unsettled, but without any real substantial rain. I would think the ground should be on the easy side of good for Friday and Saturday.”
Long Walk Hurdle, Cashmans bet: 1-3 Baracouda, 7-1 Crystal D’Ainay, 8-1 Rule Supreme, 10-1 Sh Boom, 14-1 Telemoss, Ilnamar, 25-1 It Takes Time, 33-1 Geos, 50-1 Kadara, Knock Down.
