Ladbroke World Hurdle preview: There is a lot more than money being gambled on Rule Supreme in today's Ladbrokes World Hurdle where the remarkably versatile Irish star comes face to face with Cheltenham's French fixture Baracouda.

Only the length and a half that Iris's Gift managed to put between himself and the Francois Doumen-trained horse last year prevents Baracouda from looking at an outrageous four in a row in a race still widely referred to as the "Stayers". As it is he is one of only three horses ever to win twice. A win today would put him out on his own.

It's a streak that makes the JP McManus owned favourite many people's idea of the festival banker.

Tony McCoy certainly thinks he is his own best chance of the week but the champion jockey will feel more than a little pressure himself this afternoon.

Thierry Doumen's riding of Baracouda was often criticised before injury brought his career in the saddle to an end. Indeed McCoy was often held up as an example of what Doumen could never aspire to be as a jockey.

But the trainer's son knew his horse and now McCoy himself is finding out that Baracouda takes the sort of knowing that brute strength alone cannot allow for.

Certainly the expression on Doumen Snr's face when McCoy narrowly won December's Long Walk Hurdle at Windsor broke any language barrier. In a farcically run race, McCoy got to the front plenty soon enough and ultimately only just held on from the fast-finishing Rule Supreme.

McCoy will know a lot more about his mount now but it's Baracouda's habit around here to hit a flat spot.

Doumen Jnr's solution was to sit and wait for the horse to grab the bit again. McCoy has nothing to prove to anyone but it will still be fascinating to see what he does if faced with a similar solution now.

In contrast Rule Supreme will be reunited with David Casey, the man who gets on with him best, and who somehow conjured a SunAlliance Chase victory out of the horse last year. Throw in a French Champion Hurdle from last summer as well as a Hennessy last month and the importance of Casey to Rule Supreme seemingly can't be overstated.

But if McCoy's stomach is a little tingly at the start then the same can be said with interest for trainer Willie Mullins.

Best Mate's defection from the Gold Cup last week initially looked likely to be a factor in tipping the trainer in favour of an attempt on the Gold Cup rather than this race. But the prospect of good ground and a big field finally made his mind up. However, since that call the former favourite Kingscliff has also been taken out and the £17,500 supplementary Farmer Jack has dropped dead of a heart attack.

Not surprisingly Mullins has elected to leave Rule Supreme in the Gold Cup in case of an early exit today but there is still a lot riding on his decision.

Other Irish interest will centre on Yogi who looks outclassed and Emotional Moment who doesn't. Indeed Tom Taaffe's horse has been transformed by a return to hurdles this season and a run of three Graded victories has seen him rattle down the ante-post betting.

Of the home team Inglis Drever should come into it now that he is given an extreme distance but Crystal d'Ainay looks to be just short of the top level.

However, a battle up the straight between Baracouda and Rule Supreme looks the most likely outcome and it could just be worth betting that Rule Supreme justifies the Mullins decision to take on this race rather than the Gold Cup.

Logically it makes perfect sense given the difficulty the horse can have with jumping fences. Baracouda is some difficulty in his own right but time catches up with us all and maybe Rule Supreme can catch up too.