Jockey Sam Waley-Cohen is looking forward to riding Long Run in the 2011 Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday. (credit: hyperionone)
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Jockey Sam Waley-Cohen is looking forward to riding Long Run in the 2011 Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.
The rider believes the 2011 King George VI Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner could be capable of improving on last season’s exploits and the six-year-old will start his season on Merseyside this weekend.
The Nicky Henderson-trained French import has been given extensive schooling sessions in the past, but he looks to be the best chaser in the country judged on last year’s performances and Waley-Cohen explained: "He's not actually that lightly raced. The French programme is quite extensive for such young horses so he has a surprising amount of mileage on the clock.
"The way we like our horses is to try to run them through until they are 10, 11, 12. That suggests they take more time.
"Ordinarily, if you had a six-year-old you'd expect it to strengthen up and if you take a look at Long Run you'd say he does look like a bigger, stronger horse."
Long Run is one of eight horses entered for Saturday’s Grade One and with the likes of Kauto Star, Diamond Harry and Time For Rupert all entered for the contest it looks set to be a fantastic race.
