10 Irish entries in Stayers` 10 Irish horses feature among the 48 entries revealed today for the Stg#125,000 Bonusprint Stayers` Hurdle at Cheltenham on March 14th.James Bowe`s hugely-popular Limestone Lad tops the list of potential challengers from this side of the water.He is joined by Bannow Bay, who beat Limestone Lad in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown last month, and Smurfit Champion Hurdle entry Liss A Paoraigh.Ante-post favourite Baracouda, impressive winner of the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on his last start, is one of three French-trained possibles, along with Jair Du Cochet and Havre De Thaix.Philip Hobbs` Brother Joe, who also holds an entry in the Champion Hurdle, and the Martin Pipe-trained Deano`s Beeno, head the English home defence.An interesting name among this year`s entrants is Pelagos.The seven-year-old, who won a Brighton maiden when with Roger Charlton, is now in Pennsylvania with Bruce Miller.Miller sent out Lonesome Glory to become the first North American-trained horse to ever win in Britain when taking the 1992 Sport Of Kings Hurdle at Cheltenham.French maestro Francois Doumen today reported Baracouda in fine fettle.Doumen said: 'He couldn`t be any better. He didn`t make too much effort (in the Long Walk), he won easily and he is in good form.'Asked how Baracouda would handle the undulations of Cheltenham compared with the flat Ascot course, he said: 'This is obviously the question mark. Now he is a horse who has had a lot more experience in England, it is a big bonus for us.'I would worry more about the downhill than the uphill. We always work on an uphill anyway so that`s not a big discovery for a horse.'Concerning the downhill, the horse has got a lot of ability. He is so strong now that I don`t think we should have to worry too much about it.'Doumen said Baracouda would have another race before heading for Cheltenham.'We haven`t quite made a decision yet,' he said. 'But he will definitely have a comeback race.'He believed Baracouda would handle whatever going came up at Cheltenham on March 14th.'You saw him on very soft and you saw him on fast,' he said.'He has won on any ground. I don`t think the ground is going to be a worry. I just think, for his own comfort, he would prefer good to soft and then we are on the safe side for the legs,' he said.
