Baracouda brings tear to Doumen's eye

JP McManus and John Magnier were able to put their worries behind them as Baracouda and Rhinestone Cowboy delivered convincing victories at Sandown Park yesterday.

The pair are embroiled in financial in-fighting at Manchester United, and the repercussions spilled over into the racing world yesterday when angry football fans protested against them at Hereford.

But amid tightened security yesterday, nothing could have gone better for them at the Esher track as two father-and-son teams celebrated success.

Magnier is on holiday in the Caribbean, but his son, JP, belied fears over his experience and abilities in the saddle as he guided Rhinestone Cowboy home in the colours of the Coolmore supremo’s wife, Sue.

And the victory of the McManus-owned Baracouda proved an emotional one for Francois Doumen, who admitted to being close to tears at the reception given to his charge after he had taken the Tote Scoop6 Sandown Hurdle under his son Thierry.

Baracouda, sent off the 8-15 favourite, turned in a supreme weight-carrying performance as he lumped 11st 12lb to victory, with every one of his nine rivals carrying just 10st.

He treated his rivals with disdain as he suddenly came from an impossible-looking position on the home turn and, seemingly without any effort, scythed through the field to take the advantage before the last.

Baracouda idled in front up the hill but was never seriously troubled to hold on by two lengths from Yogi.

“He’s an amazing horse,” said the winning jockey. “He’s unique, part of history. He thought he’d won the race after the last. I just had to explain to him that there was another furlong to go!”

Doumen snr will now train the nine-year-old for an attempt at winning the bonusprint.com Stayers’ Hurdle for the third year running.

“It was not a necessity to run him today, but he was bouncing out of his skin asking for a race and I thought, why not?” he said.

“Last year he didn’t seem so well and I wanted to keep him fresh for Cheltenham. But today you could see he was in another world to those horses.

“You never know what is going to happen on the way to Cheltenham, but I would be very hopeful if I can keep him in this kind of form.”

Of the bookmakers, Coral were the most impressed and cut Baracouda to 4-7 from evens to win at the Festival. But 4-5 remains available with Victor Chandler.

An hour earlier, Rhinestone Cowboy resumed the Smurfit Champion Hurdle trail with a cosy victory over Garde Champetre in the Agfa Hurdle.

Having flopped over Christmas at Leopardstown, supporters of the Jonjo O’Neill-trained gelding were in need of a reassuring return to form.

And that is exactly what they got as Rhinestone Cowboy led before the final flight, still going strongly under his amateur rider.

A fluent leap at the last sealed success for the 2-5 favourite, who was pushed out to account for his less-experienced rival by two lengths.

And although O’Neill reported that Rhinestone Cowboy will be entered for the Coral Cup (where Magnier would be able to draw his 7lb claim), the general consensus was that it will now be full steam ahead for the Champion.

“I think that is the most likely race for him,” said the winning trainer.

“He seemed in good form before Leopardstown but he just ran no sort of race. I still don’t know why, but it is a relief to see him back to form today.

“He did his job well and got everything right. He has to be asked a question, but he is a horse who will do everything you want him to – a very special horse.”

Ladbrokes, having been longest about the winner at 10-1 immediately after his Leopardstown flop, are now shortest at 5-1 (from 7-1) as they seek to balance their books.

The lightly-raced Patricksnineteenth jumped his six rivals into the ground in the Grade One Tote Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase, earning a quote of 14-1 with the sponsors for the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Chase.

Tom Doyle’s mount was left with an easier task after See You Sometime and Ladalko came down at the eighth, and after burning off nearest pursuer L’Aventure, he sauntered up the hill to record an eased-down six-length success.

Winning trainer Paul Webber said: “He may go for the SunAlliance, but we will see. A lot depends on the ground. I am not sure whether his owners will be brave enough to go for one of the handicaps there and we will have to see what (weight) he gets.

“Having said that, if we wait for Liverpool, I am not sure if that track might be a bit sharp for him.

“He has done the job very well today – he hasn’t had a lot of racing and has improved a stone every time he has run. Hopefully, he’ll improve again.”

Tusk was another who underlined his Festival claims, earning a quote of 14-1 with Coral for the JCB Triumph Hurdle after a convincing length-and-a-quarter victory over Cherub in the Masters Chartered Accountants Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle.

Henrietta Knight’s four-year-old made all under Jim Culloty and the 11-2 shot found plenty when challenged by Cherub as the pair pulled 14 lengths clear of Versus, who led home the rest.

Ms Knight said: “He loves jumping and galloping. He galloped them into the ground today and I couldn’t be more pleased.

“I think we will go straight for the Triumph Hurdle after this. I think he has had enough practice.”

Old stager Kings Mistral recorded his sixth win from nine starts at Sandown when landing the £50,000 (€72,000) Agfa Diamond Handicap Chase under Richard Johnson, sparking a double for the jockey

The 11-year-old led all the way and almost raised the roof in a rousing finish to the extended three-mile event as he held on to score by half a length from Desailly.

Basingstoke handler Pat Chamings ruled out a tilt at the Grand National but is thinking in terms of taking him back to Sandown for either the Royal Artillery Cup or the Grand Military Gold Cup, which he has won twice before.

“That was wonderful – he’s a real star,” enthused Chamings. “He loves this track.

“The Whitbread is the race we all want to win, but he is unlikely to have his ground and I shouldn’t think he will be overfaced. He has done everything he’s been asked.”

Farmer Jack bounced back to form in style under Johnson, beating Palarshan in another pulsating finish to the two-mile Elmbridge Handicap Chase.

Philip Hobbs immediately ruled out at tilt at the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham for the eight-year-old. “He will be aimed at the handicaps, possibly the Mildmay Of Flete or the Grand Annual,” he said.