Inglis Derver And Baracouda Among 18 Entries For Totesport Long Walk Hurdle

Inglis Drever and Baracouda are on course to meet for the third time in the #75,000 totesport Long Walk Hurdle, the highlight of Royal Windsor?s two-day Christmas Meeting on Saturday, December 17. This is the second year that the contest has been run at Royal Windsor, as its usual venue Ascot is closed for redevelopment.

In their two previous meetings, the Howard Johnson-trained Inglis Drever has come out on top, firstly in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham in March and last time out, when he proved a length and a quarter too strong for the French superstar in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on November 26.

However, this is very much Baracouda?s race as he has won Grade One contest on no less than four occasions - 2000, 2001 and 2003 at Ascot and last year?s race at Royal Windsor, when he beat Crystal D?Ainay, entered once again this year, by three quarters of a length.

Howard Johnson has another strong contender in No Refuge, triumphant in the Grade One Royal & SunAlliance Novices? Hurdle at last season?s Cheltenham Festival and an impressive scorer on his seasonal debut in the Grade Two Blue Square Speed Dial 64555 Hurdle at Royal Windsor on November 18.

Martin Pipe sent out the only horse, Deano?s Beeno, to beat Baracouda in the totesport Long Walk Hurdle three years ago and he has a quintet to choose from this time around. The champion trainer could be represented by French import Don?t Be Shy, the useful dual purpose performer It Takes Time, Korelo, Seebald and Westender.

One horse on the comeback trail is Starzaan, successful in the Grade Two National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell in February, 2004 and not seen out since running fourth to Hasty Prince in the Concept Hurdle at Sandown in April that year. Trainer Hughie Morrison is hoping to bring back Starzaan in the totesport Long Walk Hurdle.

Morrison revealed: 'He?s fine and I?m hoping to run but it?s still three weeks away and a lot can go wrong. He hasn?t got too many options at the moment, and I don?t want to run him under top weight in a handicap after such a long time off.

'We wouldn?t go there expecting to win and he will improve for the run. If things go to plan then the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival would be the target.'

The three mile, one and a half furlong contest is race number 19 in the BHB?s Order of Merit Series, which was landed last year by Inglis Drever. Inglis Drever is currently lying joint fourth in this year?s Order of Merit while Monkerhostin, currently second in the series, is also among the entries for the totesport Long Walk Hurdle.

Other interesting contenders include Carly?s Quest, a Grade One winner at Punchestown in April, Bob Bob Bobbin, a useful novice last season from the Colin Tizzard stable and Brewster, successful in the Grade One Challow Hurdle at Newbury last season and third in the Brit Insurance Novices? Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Nigel Twiston-Davies has two to choose from in Mistanoora, successful under top weight in a valuable handicap at Chepstow last season and Tramantano, who made a pleasing return from a near two-year absence to finish second to Lingo in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham last month. Completing the field is Charlie Mann?s Nathos, successful on his last two starts in handicap company.

Kate Hills, Head of Public Relations for Arena said: 'We could not have wished for a stronger entry for this year?s totesport Long Walk Hurdle, with all of the best staying hurdlers engaged.

'The third meeting between Baracouda and Inglis Drever should be one of the highlights of the season. Will the young pretender win for a third time or will Baracouda manage to pull it out of the bag and land his fifth totesport Long Walk Hurdle?'

Form	Horse	Age Owner	Trainer
12/112-2	BARACOUDA	10 J P McManus	Francois Doumen FR
3114-5U	BOB BOB BOBBIN	6 Sarah Tizzard	Colin Tizzard
11232-5	BREWSTER	8 Mr & Mrs John Poynton	Ian Williams
50-1P05	CARLYS QUEST	11 Ms L Neville	Ferdy Murphy
41P3-43	CRYSTAL D?AINAY	6 Tony & Jeni Fisher	Alan King
2321-10	DON?T BE SHY	4 David Johnson	Martin Pipe
U13-436	HASTY PRINCE	7 J P McManus	Jonjo O?Neill
1112-11	INGLIS DREVER	6 Andrea & Graham Wylie	Howard Johnson
31042-4	IT TAKES TIME	11 David Johnson	Martin Pipe
61256-4	KORELO	7 David Johnson	Martin Pipe
1420/12-	MISTANOORA	6 A M J Duggan	Nigel Twiston-Davies
213-122	MONKERHOSTIN	8 Martin St Quinton	Philip Hobbs
02-3211	NATHOS	8 J Davies, A Merritt & J Sunley	Charlie Mann
1211-1	NO REFUGE	5 Andrea & Graham Wylie	Howard Johnson
PP4-U0P	SEEBALD	10 The Macca & Growler Partnership	Martin Pipe
331054/-	STARZAAN	6 Ben Arbib	Hughie Morrison
40/521/-2	TRAMANTANO	6 Raymond Mould	Nigel Twiston-Davies
134R-40	WESTENDER	9 Matt Archer & The Late Jean Broadhurst	Martin Pipe