held up in 5th and well off pace, steady headway from 7th, tracked leaders on bit 3 out, joined leader next, led narrowly last, idled and edged right under pressure flat in, driven
chased clear leading pair, closed steadily from 7th, went 2nd 4 out, led narrowly 2 out, headed last, carried right flat, kept on until held near finish
held up in 4th and well off pace, pushed along 4 out, stayed on same pace from next
led and soon clear, headed after 8th, lost 2nd 4 out, weakened and mistake next
held up in rear, stumbled 7th, ridden to challenge 2 out, no impression when mistake last
chased clear leader and well clear of rest, led after 8th, headed 2 out, stayed on under pressure approaching last but not pace of leading pair
An excellent line-up for the Long Distance Hurdle in which the vote goes to Baracouda ahead of Telemoss and Crystal d'Ainay. Baracouda is, quite simply, the best staying hurdler we have seen for many years. He is a dual winner of Cheltenham's Stayers' Hurdle, was just touched off by Iris's Gift in that race this year, and he was successful in this contest last year. He has won 16 of his 21 races and, now teaming up with Tony McCoy for the first time, can get the partnership off to a winning start. Crystal d'Ainay was 13 lengths behind Baracouda at Cheltenham in March and, on his return this season, he finished a length-and-a-half behind Telemoss at Wetherby, and is now two pounds worse off at the weights. However, he should be sharper for that run and there should not be too much between them today. Mistanoora and Monkerhostin look best of the others and are both high-class hurdlers who hold place claims but, if ratings are to be believed, they have a good bit to find with the principals if they are to score here. And the best of these, in our view, will prove to be Baracouda who, accordingly, gets the vote.
