Easy for Baracouda in Long Walk Doing what would be expected of a 2/7 favourite, Baracouda emphatically landed the Cantor Sport Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot this afternoon.A winner of this contest in 2000 and in 2001, the French star made up for a surprising defeat by Deano’s Beeno last year when beating that one’s stable companion, Mr Cool by thirty lengths.Winning for the fifteenth time in twenty jumps starts, Thierry Doumen’s mount raced in third as the eventual runner-up set off in a clear lead.Making ground down the back straight, the champion stayer led between the final two flights, stretching away on the run in, Deano’s Beeno coming home five lengths back in third.In the aftermath of the win, the question was posed as to why the eight-year-old had not gone chasing, with Doumen Snr answering; 'Purely it is because we don´t really see anything threatening him at this stage so why shouldn´t we choose the easiest programme.” 'We are trying to save the horse. We know that over fences they are more damaged than they are over hurdles - this is my feeling.”
