Baracouda (1995 – 9 February 2023) was a top staying hurdler for racehorse trainer François Doumen in the late 1990s and early first decade of the 21st century.
Baracouda instead stayed home to win a Grade 3 at Auteuil before returning to the UK for a rescheduled and unofficial championship event at Sandown in April.
Baracouda returned to action the following Autumn defeating subsequent Champion Hurdler Hors La Loi III by 9 lengths in the Ascot Hurdle before winning his second Long Walk.
AP McCoy sensing a complete lack of urgency at the start sent his mount Mr Cool off in front and he was 20L clear at the first.
He had halved the deficit at the last but it still looked impossible until the petrol light on Mr Cool hit red and McCoy's mount toiled up the punishing hill.
Baracouda was closing all the while but never looking like he could quite get there in time but in a slow motion finish he eventually reeled Mr Cool in to win by a neck.
With his winning run at 10 next up was a bid for a third Long Walk hurdle again at Ascot but it proved a bridge too far as the exaggerated waiting tactics this time saw him use up too much energy to get alongside Deano's Beeno only for that rival to find a little bit extra in the finish to cause a huge upset.
Baracouda would finally face off with Irish legend Limestone Lad a tough as teak front-running winner of 35 races including 4 top level successes.
Limestone Lad as usual set a swinging gallop under Paul Carberry and led the field down the hill second time but at that point Iris's Gift was cruising in second with Baracouda on his heels also seemingly going well.
He was also to regain his Long Walk title that winter as he defeated a Grade 1 field beating old rivals Mr Cool and Deano's Beeno by 30 lengths and more.