Cheltenham Memories: Baracouda prevails in three-way battle

Caption: Baracouda and Iris's Gift fight it out after the last .

Not all eagerly-awaited clashes live up to expectations but the 2003 Stayers' Hurdle certainly did. Tony McFadden looks back on the contest...

Since becoming a four-day affair in 2005, the Thursday of the Cheltenham Festival - headlined by the World Hurdle - has attracted a fair bit of criticism, widely perceived to be the weakest day of the meeting with the feature race failing to match the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase or Gold Cup in terms of anticipation, excitement or quality. However, you will find few people who witnessed the thrilling battle between Baracouda, Iris's Gift and the remarkable Limestone Lad in 2003 willing to argue the case that the Stayers' Hurdle, as it was then known, wasn't strong enough to act as a standalone feature contest. In fact, despite Best Mate blitzing the Gold Cup field 40 minutes later for his second successive win in the race, it was the sight of three hurdlers, all at varying stages of their careers, scrapping up the hill at the end of a stamina-sapping, fiercely-run three mile contest that left the deepest impression in many minds.

Quite simply, the 2003 Stayers' Hurdle was the race that had everything. The clash between two genuine top-notch stayers in the shape of Limestone Lad, the seemingly ageless Irish veteran, and Baracouda, the defending Champion operating at the peak of his powers, had been long awaited. Relentless displays of galloping had yielded a scarcely fathomable 35 victories over a variety of distances for Limestone Lad, earning him a real public following; his undoubted bravery and tenacity were supplemented by a quick, fluent hurdling style that made him a formidable opponent. Baracouda, on the other hand, wasn't such a straightforward proposition, his much maligned rider, Thierry Doumen, insistent that the horse 'took a bit of knowing', his tendency to idle once hitting the front a notable quirk. These quirks hadn't prevented Baracouda from winning 10 of his previous 11 starts, however, including a comfortable success in the 2002 Stayers' Hurdle, and he really was a thoroughly consistent performer, not to mention a most exciting horse to watch with Doumen attempting to time his challenge as late as possible.

Considering the exceptional winning strike-rates boasted by Limestone Lad and Baracouda, it was somewhat surprising that they both entered the 2003 Stayers' Hurdle on the back of a loss, though, to steal a clich, 'they had lost nothing in defeat'. 

Racing over two miles in the Irish Champion Hurdle, Limestone Lad underlined his astonishing versatility and bravery, narrowly going down to Champion Hurdle bound Like-A-Butterfly in a protracted and memorable duel. Trying to make the most of his stamina, Barry Geraghty sent James Bowe's doughty front runner off at a strong pace, hoping to draw the sting out of Like-A-Butterfly; the plan nearly worked as Limestone Lad, in typical fashion, rallied courageously, a head being all that separated the pair at the line.

Baracouda also impressed in defeat, showing that he was still at the top of his game despite his winning sequence coming to an end at the hands of the mercurial Deano's Beeno. On a going day, Deano's Beano was a top-class hurdler and he was ridden to great effect at Ascot, Tony McCoy establishing a ten-length advantage and keeping enough in reserve to fight off Baracouda. Not for the first time, Thierry Doumen's riding of Baracouda came under intense scrutiny as he was heavily criticised in the media for employing the same exaggerated waiting tactics that had nearly caught him out at Ascot the time before. Connections, however, were adamant that, if anything, Baracouda needed to be delivered even later.

In the boxing world they say that styles make fights; it is a similar story in racing. Part of the attraction of the 2003 Stayers' Hurdle was knowing exactly how the jockeys of the main protagonists would ride their mounts. The confirmed front runner Limestone Lad was almost certain to blast off at the head of affairs, just as he had done for most of his career, setting a strong pace that brought resolution firmly to the forefront of required attributes. In contrast, Baracouda would be settled towards the rear, gradually picking off his rivals before launching one final late challenge as he attempted to retain his crown. 

With Limestone Lad in the field the 2003 Stayers' Hurdle was never going to be a tactical affair, it would be a thorough examination of a horse's ability, stamina and courage. It would be a proper championship contest.

As expected, Paul Carberry, who was back aboard James Bowe's warrior, sent Limestone Lad straight into the lead, setting a searching gallop from flag fall and establishing an advantage of a few lengths over the pursuing pack. Sticking to the script, Thierry Doumen had Baracouda settled towards the rear, though not affording Limestone Lad the same sort of lead Deano's Beeno and Mr Cool had enjoyed at Ascot earlier in the season.

As the contest developed, it was quickly apparent, however, that this was no two-horse race, the imposing grey novice Iris's Gift seemingly moving well, right on Limestone Lad's tail, matching him despite Carberry throwing his mount at every hurdle, trying to wind up the pressure with a succession of slick leaps. 

Safe in the knowledge his horse would keep finding for pressure, Carberry set sail for home at the top of the hill, cajoling his game partner along as they hurtled towards the second-last flight of hurdles. Iris's Gift, however, was still moving powerfully under a confident Geraghty, while, worryingly for backers of the Irish warrior, Baracouda, who had been niggled along briefly at the top of the hill, had come firmly back on the bridle, passing Classified and locking dead aim on the duelling duo out in front. Fluent jumps from both Limestone Lad and Iris's Gift at the second last saw them land almost level, Carberry certainly working the harder, pushing and shoving, asking his resolute partner to show his trademark grit, but Baracouda was moving menacingly, stalking them in third.

Swinging for home, Geraghty still looked untroubled aboard the novice Iris's Gift, pushing his mount alongside Limestone Lad without having to ask for maximum effort. But suddenly, and rather surprisingly, Doumen nudged Baracouda into the heat of the battle, making a line of three as they began the final lung-bursting climb for home, appearing to be going best of all. Approaching the last, for the first time in the contest, Limestone Lad was definitively headed, unable to match his rivals, despite the vociferous crowd roaring him on, jumping the final flight a length down in third.

In front plenty soon enough considering his tendency to idle, Baracouda had to fight off one final challenge from the rallying Iris's Gift, Doumen punching his mount out all the way to the line, prevailing by three-quarters of a length with a further five back to Limestone Lad in third. For the second year in a row, Doumen had completed the job, handling the intense pressure cast upon him and answering his critics in no uncertain terms. 

Though remaining a leading player on the staying hurdling scene, Baracouda would not win a third title at Cheltenham, his hat-trick bid foiled by the reopposing Iris's Gift who returned to the Festival a year older and wiser, turning the tables on Doumen's superstar in another memorable tussle. The colours of the Bowe family were once again represented, not by Limestone Lad, however. The 2003 Stayers' Hurdle represented the final chapter of a long, distinguished and remarkable career for Limestone Lad, carried out on his shield, producing a typically gallant performance up against two outstanding horses on ground quicker than ideal. He retired with a five-length verdict over Istabraq on his CV, an unprecedented and unblemished record in handicap hurdles, winning all nine of the races he contested in that sphere, and, though Cheltenham glory eluded him both times he crossed the Irish Sea, he is remembered as one of the toughest, most versatile horses of recent times.

Look out for Brand new features with Timeform Race Passes - In-Play Hints, Running Notes & Warning Horses. Find out more at timeform.com.