Drever All Set For Baracouda Clash Owner Graham Wylie hopes Inglis Drever can deny Baracouda a third consecutive success in the Ballymore Properties Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday. The two horses are set to go head-to-head for the first time since Inglis Drever ran out a three-length winner from Francois Doumen´s charge in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. Howard Johnson six-year-old has since gone on to win the John Smith´s Hurdle in decisive fashion at Wetherby in October, while Baracouda has yet to run this term after bypassing a possible engagement at Windsor last Friday. Wylie reports the former to be in grand order ahead of the extended three-mile contest at Newbury and has been installed as Cashmans´ odds-on favourite. Moreover, Graham Lee is likely to be booked for the ride, even though Wylie and Johnson have a clutch of high-profile entries at Newcastle on the same day. 'He´s in real top form and hopefully we´ll get him down to Newbury on Saturday and we´ll see how we get on,' Wylie told At The Races. 'As always we are hopeful, not expectant, but hopeful. 'There´s a big debate about where Graham goes but he´ll probably go with the Drever but we´ll just see what´s entered on Friday.' The race was reopened until this morning after an initial entry of just eight runners. However, only the Jonjo O´Neill-trained Hasty Prince was added to the field.(C) PA Sport
