Champion jockey Tony McCoy has landed the plum ride on Baracouda when the French hurdler returns at Newbury. The nine-year-old horse has been ridden in all his races to date by trainer Francois Doumen's son Thierry, but he has now retired from racing.
Baracouda will bid for back-to-back wins in the Ballymore Properties Long Distance Hurdle on 27 November.
The horse has lost twice in 14 British starts, most recently when second to Iris's Gift in the Stayers' Hurdle.
Baracouda is already the 5-2 favourite to regain the title he has won twice before at Cheltenham in March.
McCoy is stable jockey for Gloucestershire-based trainer Jonjo O'Neill, who trains many horses for Baracouda's owner JP McManus.
MMIX
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