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Long Run is has been cut to add the Cheltenham Gold Cup to his King George VI Chase triumph after lowering Kauto Star’s colours in the Kempton Park highlight.
Nicky Henderson’s six-year-old was a brilliant winner of the King George and is now second favourite for steeplechasing’s Blue Riband behind last year’s victor Imperial Commander.
Kauto Star, who finished third as he sought a record-breaking fifth King George win, is out in the betting to repeat his Gold Cup successes of 2007 and 2009.
Betfred spokesman Jon Wilde explained to Cheltenhampro: “The re-scheduled King George represnted a changing of the guard as the young pretender put the master in his place. Long Run now has to prove he is just as effective at Cheltenham, while retirement may be just around the corner for Kauto Star.”
On a vintage day for trainer Henderson, his Champion Hurdle hero Binocular looked back to his best when landing the Christmas Hurdle stylishly and is now favourite to repeat his 2010 Cheltenham triumph.
