The fact that Kauto Star was so far below form in the King George shouldn't detract from Long Run, who produced a performance well up to scratch for the race, finally adding substance to his lofty reputation.
Long Run's jumping hadn't always been the most impressive, but he was fluent at Kempton on Saturday, and he plainly has the ability to prove very competitive in the Gold Cup, for which he is now the 8.0 second favourite behind Imperial Commander. Having said that, there must be some doubts as to whether Cheltenham will suit Long Run quite so well as Kempton, bearing in mind that his jumping hasn't quite come up to scratch on his two outings at Prestbury Park.
Of those that finished behind Long Run, the second Riverside Theatre was the only one to run his race, improving on his first try at three miles and likely to have made even more of an impact but for a bad mistake at the thirteenth. He holds an entry for the Ryanair at the Festival, and his form entitles him to be shorter than the 18.0 currently available about him for the race.
Kauto Star was clearly a long way below form, though he was later reported to have bled.
There was yet another change in the Champion Hurdle market on Saturday after Binocular's smooth success in the Christmas Hurdle. Unlike last season, when he was beaten in the race, and only really reached a peak at the Festival, Binocular was to something like his best with his reappearance behind him, and is plainly a major contender for a successive Champion, his form the best any horse in the division can offer. Binocular is now a 4.3 shot for in the ante-post market for the Champion Hurdle, having wrested favouritism back from Hurricane Fly (6.0).
The victories of Long Run and Binocular were the highlights on a superb day at Kempton for Nicky Henderson, who sent out three other winners on the card. The most interesting of them was arguably Chablais, a £260,000 purchase who made a decisive start to his career under rules when winning the 21-furlong novice hurdle on the card. Henderson already has one of the leading contenders for the Baring Bingham at the Festival in Minella Class, but judged on Saturday's win Chablais also has to enter the equation for that race, for which he is now a 21.0 chance.
There was another exciting novice hurdling prospect on show at Saturday's fixture at Warwick, where Emma Lavelle's Court In Motion confirmed himself one of the best seen so far in the division when winning the Grade 2 Leamington Novices' Hurdle over 21 furlongs. Court In Motion was second behind current Baring Bingham favourite Backspin in the Challow at Newbury in December, and the market suggests that he could swerve that race in favour of the three-mile Spa, for which he is the 7.0 favourite, though the 24.0 available for the Baring Bingham is clearly too big mindful of what he achieved at Warwick.
Naas and Fairyhouse also staged jumps cards over the weekend, and there were some smart performers on show at both venues. The star at Naas on Saturday was Quito de La Roque, who won the Woodlands Park 100 Club Novice Chase, a Grade 2 over three miles. The best horse at Fairyhouse on Sunday was Golden Silver, who landed the odds in the Normans Grove Chase. The Ryanair is reportedly on his agenda for the Festival, and he is a 17.0 chance in the market for that race. There was also a listed mares hurdle on the card at Fairyhouse, in which Our Girl Salley justified short-priced favouritism. She is unbeaten over hurdles, and may well go for the David Nicholson at the Festival, for which she is a 10.0 shot, though her form leaves her with plenty to find with the likes of Quevega.
