Strong entry for Long Walk

Baracouda, four-time winner of the totesport Long Walk Hurdle, heads the 18 entries for this year’s renewal at Windsor on December 17.

Francois Doumen’s 10-year-old has taken the Grade One race in 2000, 2001 and 2003 when run at its usual home of Ascot and he also took last year’s race at Windsor.

He could again meet Ladbrokes World Hurdle winner Inglis Drever, who beat the French raider in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury last weekend.

The latter’s trainer Howard Johnson has another strong contender in Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle winner No Refuge, after he landed a Grade Two Blue race at Windsor last month.

Martin Pipe sent out the only horse, Deano’s Beeno, to beat Baracouda in the Long Walk Hurdle three years ago and he has a quintet to choose from this time around.

The champion trainer could be represented by French import Don’t Be Shy, the useful dual purpose performer It Takes Time, Korelo, Seebald and Westender.

Starzaan is another possibility with the Grade Two winner of 2004 having not run since finishing fourth in April of that year.

Trainer Hughie Morrison said: “He’s fine and I’m hoping to run but it’s still three weeks away and a lot can go wrong.

“He hasn’t got too many options at the moment, and I don’t want to run him under top weight in a handicap after such a long time off.

“We wouldn’t go there expecting to win and he will improve for the run. If things go to plan then the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival would be the target.”

Other interesting contenders include Bob Bob Bobbin, a useful novice last season, and Brewster, successful in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury last term.