Long Run on course for Betfair Chase return
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Long Run is reportedly pleasing trainer Nicky Henderson as he continues the build-up to his racecourse return at Haydock Park on November 19 when the outstanding three-mile chaser will bid for the Grade 1 Betfair Chase, a race that will tell jumps fans just how well the ex-French gelding has done over the summer, writes Elliot Slater.
Long Run proved the biggest story of last season’s jumps campaign when following up a brilliant victory at Kempton in the King George VI Chase with an equally impressive display to despatch former winners Denman and Kauto Star in a memorable renewal of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. On the back of that performance many shrewd judges took the view that a fit and healthy Long Run would probably go unbeaten through this jumps campaign, and so far Henderson is happy with the way his horse is working and has physically progressed during his break in the closed season. Even those looking at the Grand National free betting should remember this.
As usual, Henderson has brought in jumps guru Yogi Breisner to brush up the jumping of the Robert Waley-Cohen-owned six-year-old, and Long Run has been seen fencing well on the home gallops as he builds up to his racecourse return. Connections seem intent on following the same plan as last year after the Haydock race in heading for Kempton at Christmas then Cheltenham in March, whilst they have left open the possibility of running at the Aintree Festival in April should the champion show them that he remains in peak form. Fans of Aintree races 2012 should bear this in mind.
Long Run currently trades at a shade of odds-on with the sponsors Betfair on their exchange, whilst he remains a best priced 5/2 favourite to retain his crown at Prestbury Park in the spring when he will bid to become the first horse to successfully defend his Cheltenham Gold Cup title since the great triple winner Best Mate in 2003.
