Champion hope Montalcino faces Baracouda

Montalcino sets out on the Champion Hurdle trail at Ascot tomorrow.

The Venetia Williams-trained gelding is one of four rivals to face French ace Baracouda in the Stg£26,000 PricewaterhouseCoopers Ascot Hurdle over two and a half miles.

Winner of his first two starts over hurdles in impressive fashion, Montalcino finished last season on a disappointing note when he was pulled up in the Coral Eurobet Championship Hurdle at Sandown in April.

But connections have not lost faith in the five-year-old and he will be aimed at the top hurdling prizes this winter.

'He`s had a great break over the summer and has come back in good form,' said Mark Gichero of owners The Winning Line.

'Obviously it`s a big ask tomorrow and Baracouda is going to be a very tough nut to crack, certainly he`s got it all to do at the weights.

'But we`ve got very high hopes for our horse and it`s a stepping stone as part of our plan for the season which is the Champion Hurdle.

'That`s very muchthe target. Even though we`re running over two and a half tomorrow our options with a horse of his rating are quite limited.

'We will probably take him to the Fighting Fifth Hurdle next (at Newcastle on December 1st) and we will plan our campaign accordingly from then on.'

The Ascot going is currently good, good to firm in places on the hurdle track, which is a slight concern to Gichero.

Montalcino is quoted at 40-1 for the Champion Hurdle by William Hill.

Tomorrow`s race sees Rodock renew rivalry with Baracouda, having finished fourth behind Francois Doumen`s charge in the Bonusprint Distance Championship Hurdle.

The James Fanshawe-trained Hors La Loi III and last year`s winner Kates Charm, trained by Robert Alner, complete the field.