Baracouda remains on course

RACING/Kempton Report: Baracouda remains the hot favourite for next month's Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle despite a slightly unconvincing performance at Kempton yesterday.

Owner JP McManus flew in to watch the seven-year-old line-up in the Rendlesham Hurdle and may have been responsible for some of the market contractions that saw the horse returned a warmly-supported 1 to 3 favourite.

But if he did indulge himself with a wager on the horse he purchased last year for a reputed sum in the region of £300,000, then McManus might have bitten a fingernail or two enroute to the gelding's one-length success.

Spendid and Merry Masquerade set out to make the race a good test but behind Baracouda, opponents such as Sheer Genius and Kates Charm appeared to be travelling just as well as Thierry Doumen was doing aboard the favourite.

Down the back straight Doumen had to ask a question more than once to maintain his position in the packing field but a fluent leap at the second-last hurdle saw him hit the front.

Even then it was not over as Sleeping Night and Kates Charm came out of the pack in pursuit but Baracouda was driven out to hold his pursuers at bay.

However, Baracouda's trainer, Francois Doumen, was far from discouraged with his charge's performance. "I think that his rivals knew that if they wanted to beat him then they would have to ride a tactical race," said Doumen snr. "This was his trial, not the big race, and I'd rather see him at Cheltenham.

"The horse was in front a bit soon and he wasn't doing anything - he is not blowing at all." Coral and Ladbrokes kept his price for the Stayers' unchanged at 4 to 6, but Victor Chandler and Paddy Power were both less impressed and offer evens.

Fellow French raider Japhet enjoyed a straightforward warm-up for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase when making all in the Weekender Novices' Chase.

The highly-regarded five-year-old lost his unbeaten record when beaten by Frosty Canyon at Newbury last time out but bounced back with a cosy win from Rith Dubh, despite some sticky jumps in the early stages.

"This was just a good piece of work," said winning rider Benoit Gicquel. "He was not very attentive when he was in front on his own but when I asked him to go he was much better.

"He has never fallen in a race and I never thought he would here, he was just a bit lazy. I am relieved to get the race over with and we are looking forward to Cheltenham." Having been lengthened in the betting after his defeat, Japhet is now once again the favourite for his Festival target.

Ladbrokes cut him from 6 to 1 into 4 to 1 with the Noel Meade-trained Harbour Pilot next best at 5 to 1.

Hitman, given a great ride by Barry Fenton, remains a 10 to 1 chance for the Gerrard Supreme Novices' Hurdle after gaining a battling win in the Gerrard Novices' Hurdle over the 7lb receiving Isio.