Ascot report and preview Baracouda wins at a canter

Racing: Baracouda easily outpointed some familiar foes as he won the Cantor Sport Long Walk Hurdle for the third time at Ascot yesterday.

The French-trained champion stayer was 2 to 7 to underline his consistency in the Grade One contest.

And although his jumping took a little time to warm up, his backers were counting their cash as soon as he landed over the last, having already stretched well clear.

In contrast to some of his previous winning performances, Baracouda looked a complete professional as he put his head down and galloped all the way to the line to beat pacesetter Mr Cool by no less than 30 lengths.

Deano's Beeno, who handed out Baracouda's only defeat in the last three years when beating him in this event 12 months ago, seemed not to enjoy being unable to dominate but stayed on to take third place.

But in truth, the race only concerned one horse and that was Baracouda, who is now a general 6 to 4 chance to win the Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle at next March's Cheltenham Festival for the third consecutive year.

At that sort of price, punters will probably not be queuing up to hand over their cash, given that there are still nearly three months to go until the Festival.

But the market does reflect the lack of top-quality opposition - with the possible exceptions of Iris's Gift and Solerina - for honours in the staying hurdler division.

Winning rider Thierry Doumen was understandably delighted with such a convincing performance.

Meanwhile, Paul Nicholls will rely on Sud Bleu in the Ladbroke Hurdle after not declaring ante-post favourite for Rigmarole for today's Ascot feature.

Rigmarole had been expected to carry top weight of 11st 12lb following his victory in the Tote Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham last Saturday and had been quoted as 7 to 2 favourite with the sponsors for the £100,000 event.

But connections of the five-year-old had a last-minute change of heart.

"There are a couple of reasons why we are not running him. It was quick enough after last week, we were struggling for a jockey - just various reasons," said Nicholls.

Ruby Walsh partners Sud Bleu, who made a pleasing debut when runner-up to Tom Paddington at Newbury last month and he meets that horse on 5lb better terms for a two and a half length defeat. The going at Ascot is described as good.