Baracouda on top of the world

Baracouda remains the 7-4 favourite with the sponsors for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Francois Doumen’s 10-year-old, twice a winner of the race when it was run as the Stayers’ Hurdle, tops a strong entry of 35 for the race.

Baracouda lost out on his hat-trick in the three-mile event last year when just pipped by Iris’s Gift, but he will not have to face the grey again this year as connections are aiming for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The Alan King-trained Crystal D’Ainay is next best in the market on 4-1 and he is entered along with Willie Mullins’ French Champion Hurdle winner Rule Supreme.

Champion trainer Martin Pipe looks to hold a strong hand with eight entries including Therealbandit, Ilnamar and Westender while Howard Johnson has two well-fancied contenders in Royal Rosa and Inglis Drever.

Victor Dartnall has given Gold Cup entry Lord Sam an alternative engagement over the smaller obstacles and Philip Hobbs’s novice Gold Medallist, a winner at Sandown last Saturday, is an interesting contender.

Fellow novice Pole Star has been entered by James Fanshawe while Royal Ascot winner Corrib Eclipse is an intriguing proposition for Jamie Poulton although he has yet to make his hurdling debut.