09 February 2023 , 17:04
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Baracouda, the brilliant long distance hurdler who twice won the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, has died at the age of 28.
He died at owner JP McManus’s Martinstown Stud in Ireland where he had spent his retirement since the end of his racing career with top French trainer Francois Doumen.
He won the Stayers’ Hurdle in 2002 and 2003, when he defeated Iris's Gift and Limestone Lad, during a golden decade of three milers which also saw the emergence of Inglis Drever and Big Buck’s.
Doumen’s son Thierry rode Baracouda to both victories at the Festival as well as in 16 of his 18 wins. the horse also holding the record for the most wins in Ascot’s Long Walk Hurdle which he landed four times.
He was bought by McManus after the first of his Long Walk wins and ran his final race in the 2006 Stayers’ in which he finished fifth
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McManus's racing manager Frank Berry said: "We had some great days with Baracouda especially in the Long Walk Hurdle. He was a grand horse to have. The Doumens did a lovely job with him.
"He had his own technique. He would hit a flat spot during his races and finish well after looking like he was beat, coming from a good bit off the pace.
"He had a grand retirement in Martinstown and just went downhill in the last week or two. He was quite healthy up to then."
Berry confirmed another horse Doumen trained for McManus, the 2004 Irish Champion Hurdle winner Foreman, had also passed away recently.