Baracouda can make history at Cheltenham tomorrow by gaining a third victory in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

This three mile race has a new name but many still call it the Stayers' Hurdle. Baracouda is one of three dual-winners of the event, along with Crimson Embers and Galmoy in the 1980s.

No horse, however, has ever won this Grade 1 race three times, which will make a victory tomorrow for Baracouda extra-special.

Trained in France by Francois Doumen, who saddled Kelami to win on the course yesterday, Baracouda has been the outstanding staying hurdler of recent years. He has won 18 of his 24 races and has been beaten only twice in Britain.

One of those defeats was in this race last year, when he was narrowly denied by Iris's Gift after the pair had drawn 13 lengths clear of third-placed Crystal d'Ainay.

There is no Iris's Gift in the field tomorrow, and although Crystal d'Ainay looks sure to be in the shake-up again, Baracouda's main danger is likely to be Rule Supreme, who runs in this race instead of Friday's Gold Cup.

A class act, who won the Supreme Novices' Chase at this meeting last season, Rule Supreme is equally effective over the smaller obstacles and has won the French Champion Hurdle.

Willie Mullins' charge looks sure to make a bold bid, but Baracouda, with Tony McCoy in the saddle, is my fancy to triumph in this £200,000 showpiece race.

Irish trainer Mouse Morris was left disappointed yesterday when his strongly-fancied War Of Attrition finished out of the money in the Arkle Trophy, but he could gain some compensation courtesy of Keepatem in tomorrow's National Hunt Chase.

Tough, consistent and the winner of a valuable race at Leopardstown over Christmas, Keepatem will be ridden by leading Irish amateur jockey John Thomas McNamara, who won on Spot Thedifference yesterday.

Thisthatandtother, a very creditable runner-up in all his three races this season, deserves to go one better for Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh in the Daily Telegraph Festival Trophy Chase.

Nicholls and Walsh can also score in the Mildmay of Flete Handicap Chase with Le Duc, a previous winner on this course.

My Nap vote is awarded to Attorney General in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Final.

Trainer Jim Old's horse has been aimed at this race since finishing a good fourth at Sandown in early February. Tomorrow's extra two furlongs should suit him and I think that Attorney General can give jockey Wayne Hutchinson his first Festival winner.

Thursday's tips:

Cheltenham Festival

2.00 King Harald, 2.35 Thisthatandtother, 3.15 Baracouda, 4.00 Le Duc, 4.40 Keepatem, 5.20 Attorney General (Nap).

Tomorrow's other meetings are at Hexham and Southwell.

Updated: 09:41 Wednesday, March 16, 2005