Baracouda Misses Walk Baracouda will miss Tuesday´s totesport Long Walk Hurdle at Chepstow after suffering a minor setback. Trainer Francois Doumen was not totally satisfied with the 10-year-old after he worked ahead of the Grade One event and opted to bypass the three-mile contest. Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, explained: 'Francois was not happy with him after he worked, he just pulled up a bit stiff behind so he´s going to have to miss the race. 'He was just a bit stiff and with the travelling and everything, we´ve decided to give it a miss. 'He was just walking home and wasn´t quite right. Francois doesn´t think it is anything serious, it´s just one of those things.' Baracouda had been expected to tackle the race after it was rescheduled to Chepstow following the abandonment of Windsor last weekend. The Alesso gelding had not originally been confirmed at the initial five-day stage after an administrative error at Doumen´s yard, but the abandonment offered him a second chance. Baracouda´s long-term target remains the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, a race he won twice when it was known as the Stayers´ Hurdle. In the absence of the French ace, the Howard Johnson-trained Inglis Drever will face a maximum of 11 rivals. The Ladbrokes World Hurdle hero is sure to be a hot favourite and the County Durham handler could have two strings to his bow as No Refuge is also entered.(C) PA Sport
