Long Walk Hurdle tops high-class December meeting at Royal Windsor Baracouda on course for fourth success in Telectronics Systems Long Walk Hurdle. Friday, December 17 and Saturday, December 18, sees two high-class days of jump racing at Royal Windsor, with the £75,000 Telectronics Systems Long Walk Hurdle taking centre stage on the Saturday. This fixture has been transferred from Ascot for both this year and 2005 while that racecourse undergoes redevelopment. A total of ten horses have stood their ground at today´s five-day confirmation stage for the Grade One Telectronics Systems Long Walk Hurdle, headed by Baracouda, the outstanding staying hurdler of recent years and winner of this race in 2000, 2001 and 2003. The nine-year-old made a winning seasonal reappearance when taking the Grade Two Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on November 27. Trainer Francois Doumen said: 'Baracouda will definitely run at Windsor in the Telectronics Systems Long Walk Hurdle. 'He´s come out of his run at Newbury in superb form and I´m very happy with him.' Other possibles for the three mile, one and a half furlong contest include Crystal d´Ainay, runner-up to Baracouda at Newbury and victorious in the Grade Two Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham last season, the Newbury third and fourth Kadara and Telemoss, as well as Geos, twice winner of the totesport Gold Trophy at Newbury. Nicky Richards, trainer of Telemoss, today revealed that his charge could take on Baracouda once again. The Penrith handler reported: 'We´re not sure yet whether Telemoss will run in the Telectronics Systems Long Walk Hurdle - we´ll see as the week goes on what we´re going to do with him. 'It depends whether the race is going to cut up and a little bit on whether there is going to be any rain - we´ll just weigh everything up as we go through the week. 'He seems in good form and he´s come out of Newbury well - I thought the ground was just a bit quick for him there. 'He ran a good race - he was fourth in the Stayers´ Hurdle in 2002 when beaten just over 10 lengths by Baracouda and he got beat about that the other day by. That´s probably as good as he is compared to Baracouda.' Martin Pipe could be represented by Ilnamar, triumphant in the Grade One Aintree Hurdle in 2002 and a pleasing third on his return from injury behind Monet´s Garden in the Grade Two Coloroll Hurdle on November 19, and also It Takes Time. The one entry from Ireland is last year´s Royal & SunAlliance Chase winner Rule Supreme, who also landed the Grade One Grande Course de Haies d´Auteuil (French Stayers´ Hurdle) on June 19. The field is completed by Jonjo O´Neill´s Sh Boom, successful in the Grade Two Premier Stayer´s Hurdle at Haydock last season and Knock Down form the Henry Daly yard, who will be making his British debut having previously raced in France, where he was a Grade Three winner over fences. The Telectronics Systems Long Walk Hurdle is supported by the Grade Two Blue Square 0800 587 0200 Novices´ Chase over two and a half miles which could see the eagerly-awaited chasing debut of Jonjo O´Neill´s Iris´s Gift, victorious in last season´s Stayers´ Hurdle when he defeated Baracouda. Jonjo O´Neill could also run Quazar, formerly a smart hurdler and successful on two of his three starts over fences. Other exciting possibles among the 19 entries include Hughie Morrison´s Marble Arch, runner-up in the 2002 Champion Hurdle. The same trainer could also run The Last Cast, a most encouraging second on his chasing debut in the Henry VIII Novices´ Chase at Sandown on December 4. East Ilsley-based Morrison said today: 'My two entries are possible runners at this stage. 'We were originally going to go hurdling with Marble Arch again this season but there isn´t really anywhere for him to go. After his injury problems, he is not as good as he was and it will take years for his handicap mark to come down over hurdles. 'He schooled very well this morning and we´re looking to go novice chasing with him. 'It is hard to find a race for him to be honest - we want to find him a novice chase over two and a half miles on a nice, flat course. 'The Last Cast ran very well at Sandown but this race might come a bit quickly. I will be leaving my decision as late as possible.' The third main race of the day is the Listed Bet at bluesq.com Silver Cup Handicap Chase, which has 20 entries including Baracouda´s stablemate, First Gold, the 2000 King George VI Chase winner and twice successful in the Martell Cup at Aintree. Another possible is Nil Desperandum, one of the leading Irish novices of last season who will be bidding to bounce back from a disappointing effort in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. Friday´s highlight is the £30,000 Grade Two Bet at bluesq.com Novices´ Hurdle, where there are ten entries including Cherub, a Grade One winner at Punchestown earlier this season and Martin Pipe´s Marcel, a seven-time winner already this season. The ground at Windsor is currently GOOD. Clerk of the Course David Mackinnon said: 'The forecast is for it to stay dry until Wednesday, when should be some rain. 'After Wednesday, the weather is set to be unsettled but without any real substantial rain. I would think that the ground should be on the easy side of good for Friday and Saturday.'
