Baracouda lacks bite in trial

Baracouda remains the hot favourite for next month`s Bonusprint Stayers` Hurdle despite a slightly unconvincing performance at Kempton today.

Owner JP McManus flew in to watch the seven-year-old line-up in the Rendlesham Hurdle and may have been responsible for some of the market contractions that saw the horse returned a warmly-supported 1-3 favourite.

But if he did indulge himself with a wager on the horse he purchased last year for a reputed sum in the region of #300,000, then McManus might have bitten a fingernail or two en-route to the gelding`s one-length success.

Spendid and Merry Masquerade set out to make the race a good test but behind Baracouda, opponents such as Sheer Genius and Kates Charm appeared to be travelling just as well as Thierry Doumen was doing aboard the favourite.

Down the back straight Doumen had to ask a question more than once to maintain his position in the packing field but a fluent leap at the second-last hurdle saw him hit the front.

Even then it was not over as Sleeping Night and Kates Charm came out of the pack in pursuit but Baracouda was driven out to hold his pursuers at bay.

However, Baracouda`s trainer, Francois Doumen, was far from discouraged with his charge`s performance.

'I think that his rivals knew that if they wanted to beat him then they would have to ride a tactical race,' said Doumen snr. 'This was his trial, not the big race, and I`d rather see him at Cheltenham.

'The horse was in front a bit soon and he wasn`t doing anything - he is not blowing at all.'

Coral and Ladbrokes kept his price for the Stayers` unchanged at 4-6, but Victor Chandler and Paddy Power were both less impressed and offer even-money.

Fellow French raider Japhet enjoyed a straightforward warm-up for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase when making all in the Weekender Novices` Chase.

The highly-regarded five-year-old lost his unbeaten record when beaten by Frosty Canyon atNewbury last time out but bounced back with a cosy win from Rith Dubh, despite some sticky jumps in the early stages.

'This was just a good piece of work,' said winning rider Benoit Gicquel. 'He was not very attentive when he was in front on his own but when I asked him to go he was much better.

'He has never fallen in a race and I never thought he would here, he was just a bit lazy. I am relieved to get the race over with and we are looking forward to Cheltenham.'

Having been lengthened in the betting after his defeat, Japhet is now once again the favourite for his Festival target.

Ladbrokes cut him from 6-1 into 4-1 with Harbour Pilot next best at 5-1.

Hitman remains a 10-1 chance for the Gerrard Supreme Novices` Hurdle after gaining a battling win in the Gerrard Novices` Hurdle.

The Grade Two event looked to be going the way of favourite Gone Far until Tony McCoy`s mount made a dreadful mistake at the final flight and handed the advantage tothe 12-1 winner.

Isio, who was receiving 7lb, came out of the pack to throw down a challenge on the run-in but Barry Fenton`s mount - who has not always looked the most resolute performer in the past - had enough in hand to score by a head.

'I am delighted with him,' said trainer Mark Pitman. 'This was a good race and I think he will be even better suited by Cheltenham.

'He was as fit today as I have ever got him and we`ve got to be hopeful that he can go to Cheltenham with a chance.

'He made a bad mistake early on last time at Haydock and that was the end of that.

'But what has pleased me most today is the way that he stuck his head out and battled.'

Zafarabad rolled back the years to win the Compare Odds At easyodds.com Handicap Chase.

A couple of seasons ago, the grey son of Shernazar was a top hurdler and then novice chaser before a back injury kept him off the course for 18 months.

He had taken time to return to form this term but showed that the old ability is still there when making every yard in this two-and-a-half-mile contest to beat northern raider Nosam.

'It`s great to see him back and I think he would probably prefer better ground,' said trainer Philip Hobbs, sporting a black eye after a ski-ing accident.

'He has always been a lot happier going right-handed and there is a race at Wincanton in a fortnight`s time which would be a possibility.'

Spinofski heads for the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase at Cheltenham after winning the Corinthian Handicap Chase under amateur rider Matthew Baldock.

'Matthew joined me when Julian Smyth-Osborne gave up his licence last year and that was a good race for them to get to know each other before the Kim Muir,' trainer Paul Webber said.

'Hopefully they will just creep into the handicap and as he`s a good jumper, I think he will go well.'