Doumen out for World domination
Francois Doumen has revealed former champion stayer Baracouda could be joined by stablemates Millenium Royal and Blue Canyon in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle on March 16.
The trio are part of a five-strong French raiding party in the Cheltenham contest for which 50 entries were announced today.
And Baracouda, winner of the three-mile highlight in 2002 and 2003, is set to head straight to the Festival without being seen on the track since November.
“So far things are going all right and the horse is in very good form,” said Doumen.
“He’s enjoying his break and will go straight for the World Hurdle as I know he’s a better horse when fresh.”
Millenium Royal, winner of a Grade One event at Auteuil last November, is a 20-1 chance with the sponsors and is likely to have a first taste of Cheltenham on January 28.
“He fractured a knee and had nearly two years off but he’s clearly a decent horse and my plan is to give him a test race at the end of the month in the Cleeve Hurdle,” said Doumen.
Of Blue Canyon, who chased home No Refuge at Windsor in November, Doumen added: “He’s also had a break and will be doing exactly the same as the other two with the World Hurdle his target.”
David Johnson believes Korelo will need to have the mud flying if he is to be competitive at the Festival.
The eight-year-old is one of four entries for the owner and after finishing fifth last year could be joined by It Takes Time, Classified and Standin Obligation.
Their trainer Martin Pipe also has Westender and Lough Derg engaged.
Korelo continued his preparation when finishing third at Warwick on Saturday, and Johnson said: “It was a pleasing run and he does nothing quickly – he is just and out-and-out stayer.
“He ran there last year and wasn’t good enough to lower the colours of Inglis Drever, but he isn’t going to be there this time.
“He is a very consistent and genuine horse and although he might not be good enough to win that race he will be on the premises if the ground came up soft,” Johnson told At The Races.
Nine-times winner Classified has not run since finishing fourth to Baracouda in 2003 but Johnson reports the 10-year-old to be heading back to full health.
“He has been off a long time but had a leg and we brought him back about 18 months ago,” he said.
“He still wasn’t quite right then so we put him out in the field for another year. He is a 10-year-old now but he is a very talented horse and we did have high hopes for him.
“He is on the comeback trail and he doesn’t have that many miles on the clock and we are pleased to have managed to get another entry at Cheltenham.
“The Queen Mother, Gold Cup and World Hurdle are all open races this year so we have put our entries in and hope we get there – there are another eight weeks to go.
“Classified may well go novice chasing but Martin is giving himself and his owners lots of options with the horses and that is what he has done with Classified.”
The 50 entries are 15 more than in 2005 and although last year’s winner Inglis Drever will be absent through injury, stablemates No Refuge, Akilak and Royal Rosa provide trainer Howard Johnson with a strong back-up team.
Johnson said he is still undecided about where to send No Refuge for his next run.
It had been thought he would take his chance in the intercasino.co.uk Hurdle at Lingfield on Saturday but that run is now in doubt due to the soft ground, meaning he could turn out against Royal Rosa in the Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle on January 28.
“He’s in at Lingfield and he’s in the race at Cheltenham, the Cleeve Hurdle,” Johnson said.
“It just depends on the ground at the minute. Going down south at the moment is taking so long that I’m not sure whether I’ll send him to Lingfield or not. I’ll discuss it and we might send both of them for the Cleeve.”
What is concerning Johnson this season is sending his horses on long trips only for the meeting to be abandoned, something which stable star Inglis Drever had to cope with when the Long Walk at Windsor was abandoned before being rescheduled.
“Last year we didn’t have a problem getting them to the track but this year with the roads as they are it’s taking seven or eight hours and it’s a long time for them to be stuck in a box only for it to be cancelled.
“Hopefully there will be no problems with the weather on Saturday and at this stage he is more likely to run than Arcalis is in the Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock.”
Rhinestone Cowboy is one of four Jonjo O’Neill-trained possibles alongside star novice hurdler Black Jack Ketchum, Exotic Dancer and Fire Dragon.
The form of the Grade One totesport Long Walk Hurdle at Chepstow on December 27 is well represented by the winner My Way De Solzen, second-placed Neptune Collonges, Starzaan (3rd), Brewster (5th), Carlys Quest (6th) and Mistanoora (7th).
Mighty Man and The Market Man, who finished first and second in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham in December, could also reoppose, while there is a record 13-strong Irish-trained entry including Golden Cross, Asian Maze, Strangely Brown, Rosaker and Al Eile.
Ladbrokes World Hurdle, sponsors bet: 4-1 Rhinestone Cowboy, 9-2 Baracouda, 5-1 No Refuge, 10-1 Asian Maze, Golden Cross, 14-1 My Way De Solzen, Royal Rosa, 16-1 Al Eile, Ambobo, Attorney General, Black Jack Ketchum, Mighty Man, Neptune Collonges, 20-1 Millenium Royal, Patriarch Express, The Market Man, 25-1 Blue Canyon, Standin Obligation, 33-1 bar.
