Dual Stayers Hurdle winner Baracouda will face a maximum of nine rivals in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday, with old adversary Deano´s Beeno among the entries.
Martin Pipe´s Deano´s Beeno, twice winner of the race, defeated Baracouda in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot last year and is joined by stablemate Mr Cool, who himself failed by a neck to beat Baracouda last season..
According to Baracouda´s trainer Francois Doumen 'he gallopped on the grass at Coye le Foret this morning and everything was satisfactory.' He added 'As long as the ground is all right you will see him at Newbury on Saturday.'
Among the other entries are outsiders Count Campioni, Sea Drifting and Happy Husssar, while Paul Nicholls has entered Sleeping Night, runner-up behind Baracouda in the Rendlesham Hurdle last February.
