Doumen hoping to rule the world

Francois Doumen believes Baracouda is as good as last year ahead of his bid to go one better in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle and claim the Cheltenham’s stayers’ championship for a third time tomorrow.

The 11-year-old was runner-up to the sidelined Inglis Drever 12 months ago and occupied the same spot the previous March, having been successful in 2002 and 2003.