Long Run: Horse trained by Nicky Henderson

[mayo]

Long Run is likely to wear cheekpieces when he bids to regain his crown in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

Owner Robert Waley-Cohen said the application of that type of headgear was "under serious consideration" for the eight-year-old, who was victorious in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day for a second time.

"It is definitely under serious consideration for the Gold Cup. Whether he will wear them beforehand I don't know," he said.

The eight-year-old, trained by Nicky Henderson, is a top-priced 7-1 third favourite to land the blue riband of jumps racing which he won in 2011.

Waley-Cohen reports Long Run to have taken his Christmas exertions very well, but that it had not yet been decided whether he will have another run before the Gold Cup.

Last year he won the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury on the road to Cheltenham and next month's race is an obvious option.

"I think he's come out of the race better than we expected and is in good order," said Waley-Cohen.

"He was slightly less than 100% last year. He has regained his mojo.

"We are thinking whether to run him before the Gold Cup and we haven't decided yet - with this snow it's hard to make any decisions.

"There's the Denman Chase at Newbury. He won it last year and broke the track record.

"That has to be a possibility but I wouldn't say he was certain to run in it."

[Statto]

Goes straight to Gold Cup

NJH

"Long Run is not running (at Newbury). We just decided with it being soft to heavy and everything, we are not desperate to go," said Henderson.

"We are under no pressure so we will go our own way."

[Hoof]

Sam

Challengers

"The form of all the leading contenders is extremely strong. In reality whoever wins it is going to have to run up to a mark not yet achieved."Bobs Worth's form looks incredibly impressive and is probably the one to beat."

The Break

"If you look at the horses that ran in the King George that have come out, Champion Court and Grands Crus haven't done great and that might be because it was a tough race,As far as Long Run is concerned there is no real worry about him being race ready. [Trainer] Nicky Henderson can get them ready first time - he did with Bobs Worth in the Hennessy."

Cheekpieces
"It presents two challenges. He is always pretty keen in the first mile of a race and cheekpieces are not going to help that but he seems to need them in the last mile. We need to see if they'll be a help or a hindrance."

[Morning Glory]

Nicky Henderson plans to see whether cheekpieces will make a difference to Long Run’s performance when he is assessed by jumping guru Yogi Breisner later this week. Breisner, who is an important part of the British eventing team set-up, is often asked to run his eye over top racehorses, and has worked with the Robert Waley-Cohen-owned eight-year-old before.

While Long Run was a good second in the Betfair Chase and won another King George at Christmas, he has raced a little lazily at times and needed to be pushed out to stay level with fellow Gold Cup contender Bobs Worth and Champion Hurdle aspirant Binocular when the trio worked together at Kempton last weekend.

“Yogi’s coming down to school a few horses this week, and we’ll probably school him in the cheekpieces, as it’s something we’re thinking about,” Henderson said.

[Sprinter]

Long Run jockey Sam Waley-Cohen on schooling session today: "All very happy. Cheek pieces [in Gold Cup] highly likely."

[Super Bobs]

Henderson also saddled the third as his 2011 Gold Cup winner Long Run finished nearly 10 lengths adrift of his stablemate.

Long Run won the King George VI Chase on his previous start and Henderson is not sure if he will run again this term.

"Robert (Waley-Cohen, owner) feels Long Run has had enough for the season. He could run again, but we'll talk about it in a few days," he added.

[Super Bobs]

Would be unusual if he is the only one sick

"He's 100% today. After the race yesterday we had him scoped and he had a significant amount of mucus and a bit of blood in there as well which is significant," said the Seven Barrows trainer.

"He had a trachea wash done on Monday which was 100% clean. From what was in there yesterday you'd be fairly confident explains what happened. He has obviously run miles below form.

"He is fine this morning. We will have another look at him like we did last Monday and the laboratory can have a look and we will see if that concurs with what the vet found on the racecourse yesterday in which case he has bumped into something since last Monday.

"It's a bit like a human being. You go to bed one night feeling great and then wake up in the morning feeling pretty awful. You can only test so much.

"We know he was all right last Monday, but he obviously wasn't right yesterday, which is frustrating, but we've been there before.

"It's a pity because he'd never run a bad race in his life, so we know that wasn't him. We've just got to get him back to absolutely top form. He didn't get home at all yesterday.

"We'll get the results back from the lab and then we will have to think what we do.

"I don't know, we'll just see, but it's possible we will just have to leave the Betfair (Chase at Haydock) out of it and go straight to the King George. It just depends. We are not going to jump to any conclusions. We've just got to iron out what happened.

"If he had finished third or fourth beaten five or six lengths you would say ouch did he need it , or is he not as good as he was or anything like that, but when that's happened you know something's wrong.

"We will have a look tomorrow and then we will keep everybody posted, but he is 100% today. He's sound, he's bright and perfectly chipper."

[mayo]

dont know what do do with Long Run in TTF

Long Run's participation in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday week still hangs in the balance.

Nicky Henderson's 2011 Gold Cup winner and dual King George hero disappointed for the first time in his career when unplaced in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby last month.

Still only eight, Long Run returned a dirty scope after his Wetherby flop and connections will only ask him to take on the likes of Bobs Worth and Silviniaco Conti if they are convinced the gelding is back on form.

"There are lots of different theories but nothing conclusive as yet," said owner Robert Waley-Cohen.

"We've not decided if he's going to run in the Betfair at Haydock yet. He will be prepared for the race but he will only go if we are 100% happy with him.

"There's no point going for a race like that against the best horses around if you are even 1% below your best. The horse will tell us if he's ready or not. That was the first time he'd been out of the first three in 27 starts, so you'd have to think something wasn't right."

[Sprinter]

Found the problem now according to pics on racing post - he went right through one fence and no one noticed !

[mayo]

Long Run has technically had a run. All right the wheels came off a bit, but we're happy that we know what happened and why it happened," said Henderson.

"He does seem in very good form. He has jumped beautifully all week - he's done plenty of it."

Long Run's owner, Robert Waley-Cohen, is similarly hopeful his pride and joy can show his true colours on Saturday.

He said: "We wouldn't be running if we didn't think he was ready to do himself justice, so we just have to hope for the best. If he runs up to his best form then hopefully he'll shake them up. If he doesn't run up to his best, then he certainly won't.

"It looks like a great race. All the top horses are there, apart from Willie Mullins' horse (Sir Des Champs). Whatever wins on Saturday will have to be on their best form."

[Yeehaa]

Robert Waley-Cohen is keen for Long Run to have his next race in the Kempton Park Chase on February 22.

Move him to Grand National horses section please

A tilt at the Grand National for the 2011 Gold Cup winner has long been on the cards but Waley-Cohen is keen to take in another valuable handicap first, with Nicky Henderson's charge falling down the ratings.

Waley-Cohen told the Sunday Mirror: "Owner, jockey and trainer all have different ideas where the horse should go next. But I'm fairly hopeful I'll get my way, in which case he'll be heading back to Kempton. He's got a great record at the track and he's now 19lb lower than at his peak two seasons ago."

The owner added: "Handicaps are an attractive option again now his rating is coming down. The Kempton race is worth a lot of money so I'd be keen for him to take his chance.

"It's the same with the Grand National. Two years ago we wouldn't have dreamt of running him in the race, but now I'd doubt if he'd even be top weight."

[Morning Glory]

James Knight says avoid

Sadly, Long Run now looks a horse on the downgrade and his sometimes chancy jumping let him down in the King George (in which he eventually unseated Sam Waley-Cohen at the final fence). Apparently connections are considering a bid for the Grand National with him, but Long Run and the Grand National fences does not look like a match made in heaven. Please, no.


....

National fences aren't the national fences anymore though and SWC is pretty useful over them.

[Old Vic]

Winning trainer Nicky Henderson said: "That was fantastic and it's lovely to see him winning again. He was very well treated by the conditions of this race - it was a fantastic opportunity and I love coming to Kelso.

"He got an amazing reception and the people here clearly appreciate seeing a good horse. He enjoyed himself and that was the main objective.

"It was also nice to win this as I used to train some good horses for Major Straker. From here the main aim is the Grand National and the Gold Cup is looking a competitive race but nothing is ruled out yet."

[Sefton]

Long Run Factfile

Long Run (FR) 9-11-09



Breeding: Cadoudal (FR) - Libertina (FR) (Balsamo (FR))

Breeder: Marie-Christine Gabeur

Owner: Robert Waley-Cohen

Trainer: Nicky Henderson

Jockey: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen

Form: 21211113/1211113/311/2213/2132-54U1



Long Run

*Six-time Grade One winner in France and Britain, headed by victory in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup in March 2011, when he defeated Denman and Kauto Star, and a pair of successes in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park, in January, 2011, and December, 2012.

*Bidding to become the third horse to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Crabbie's Grand National following Golden Miller (who won both in 1934) and L'Escargot (Gold Cup in 1970 & 1971, Grand National 1975).

*Finished out of the first three for the first time of his career in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in November and also failed to sparkle in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park on November 23 and the King George VI Chase on December 26.

*Successful on his most recent outing at Kelso on February 13, comfortably beating Knockara Beau by six lengths in a three and a quarter mile conditions chase.

*Bypassed the Cheltenham Festival (after running at the meeting for the previous four years) to go for the Crabbie's Grand National.

Race Record: Starts: 30; Wins: 15; 2nd: 7; 3rd: 5; Win & Place prize money: £1,527,715



Robert Waley-Cohen

Born: November 10, 1948 Background: Son of former Lord Mayor of London Sir Bernard Waley Cohen, 1st Baronet, and grandson of leading industrialist Sir Robert Waley-Cohen, who was a director of Shell. Robert's older brother Sir Stephen is chairman of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) Council, who also runs several theatres in the West End of London, while he has two sisters - Joanna, a professor of history at New York University, and Rosalind, who is married to former New Zealand politician Philip Burdon. Robert was a stockbroker before working for Christie's Auctioneers. Founded Alliance Medical, a supplier of scanning equipment to hospitals, in 1983, and the company was sold for £600 million in 2007. His son Tom died of cancer in July, 2004, and Tom's Ward at Oxford Children's Hospital is named after him. He is married to Felicity and they have two other sons, Sam and Marcus, and a daughter Jessica. Racing Interests: Enjoyed his greatest day as an owner in March, 2011, when his amateur rider son Sam Waley-Cohen partnered Long Run to win the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup, trained by long-time friend Nicky Henderson. He has enjoyed five winners at the Cheltenham Festival in total, most recently Although he rode in point-to-points and hunter chases, he described himself as an incredibly bad amateur - "wrong shape, wrong weight, not fit enough - basically, just thoroughly incompetent". Trains a few horses himself under permit and sent out Katarino to win the Crabbie's Fox Hunters' Chase at Aintree in 2005 and 2006, again ridden by Sam. A member of the Jockey Club since 1983, where he has been a steward. Has a small team of around 10 broodmares at Upton Viva Stud in Warwickshire and was a director of Cheltenham racecourse before becoming chairman when Lord Vestey stepped down at the end of the 2010/11 season. He has horses in training with Guillaume Macaire in France as well as Nicky Henderson.

Crabbie's Grand National Record: 2003 Katarino (UR 15th); 2007 Liberthine (5th); 2011 Oscar Time (2nd); 2013 Oscar Time (4th)



Nicky Henderson (Lambourn, Berkshire)

Born: Lambeth, London, on December 10, 1950 Background: Henderson is the son of financier and amateur jockey John Henderson MBE, who founded the Racecourse Holdings Trust, the forerunner for Jockey Club Racecourses. Nicky, who had Field Marshal Montgomery as a godfather, was educated at Eton and the Royal Agricultural College. He worked for stockbrokers Cazenove in London and Australia, where he gained experience riding work at Randwick, before devoting himself full-time to racing. First made his name in Britain as an amateur rider, finishing runner-up three times in the non-professional championship. His main wins as a jockey came on Happy Warrior in the 1977 Fox Hunters Chase at Aintree and on Acquaint in Sandown's Imperial Cup in the same year. Recorded his 78th and final win on Rolls Rambler in the Horse & Hound Cup at Stratford in June, 1978. He became assistant trainer to Fred Winter in 1974 and received his own training licence in July, 1978, taking over from Roger Charlton at Windsor House Stables in Lambourn. Moved to Seven Barrows, to the north of the village, in 1992. First winner as a trainer was Dukery at Uttoxeter, October 14, 1978. Achievements: Has won the Jump trainers' championships three times; in 1985/86, 1986/87 and 2012/2013, and is the most successful handler in history at the Cheltenham Festival, sending out 51 winners. Major wins include: Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup (2011 Long Run, 2013 Bobs Worth), BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase (1992 Remittance Man, 2012 Finian's Rainbow, 2013 Sprinter Sacre), Ladbrokes World Hurdle (1989 Rustle, 2000 Bacchanal), Stan James Champion Hurdle (1985, 1986 & 1987 See You Then, 2009 Punjabi, 2010 Binocular).

Crabbie's Grand National Record: 1979 Zongalero (2nd);1980 Zongalero (Refused 20th); 1981 Zongalero (Fell 22nd); 1982 Sun Lion (Fell 3rd); 1983 Spartan Missile (Unseated 22nd); 1984 Spartan Missile (16th); 1985 Classified (5th); 1986 Classified (3rd), The Tsarevich (7th); 1987 The Tsarevich (2nd), Classified (UR 25th); 1988 The Tsarevich (7th); 1990 Brown Windsor (4th), 1991 Ten Of Spades (14th), 1991 Master Bob (PU bef 19th); 1992 Brown Windsor (Fell 6th); 1994 Henry Mann (Fell 1st); 1995 Tinryland (Fell 1st); 1998 Pashto (Fell 1st); 1999 Fiddling The Facts (Fell 22nd); 2000 Esprit De Cotte (Fell 22nd); 2001 Esprit De Cotte (UR 11th), 2002 Marlborough (Fell 1st), Goguenard (Fell 1st), 2003 Katarino (UR 15th); 2005 Fondmort (PU 28th); 2006 Juveigneur (Fell 1st), Iris Royal (PU bef 17th), 2007 Liberthine (5th); 2009 Golden Flight (Fell 1st); Fleet Street (UR 18th); 2012 Shakalakaboomboom (9th); 2013 Roberto Goldback (UR last)



Mr Sam Waley-Cohen

Born: April 15, 1982 Background: Father Robert is chairman of Cheltenham Racecourse, a permit holder and owner/breeder who has most of his horses in training with Nicky Henderson. Sam studied politics at Edinburgh University and lives in London. He has established his own dental company, Portman Healthcare and works full time running it. Married Annabel Ballin in Lambourn in June, 2011 - a ceremony that was attended by the Duchess of Cambridge and her sister Pippa Middleton. Waley-Cohen is a close friend of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and is widely credited with reuniting the pair following their brief break-up in 2007 and attended their wedding. The future Queen was at school with Sam's brother, Tom, who died of bone cancer, aged 20, in 2004. In March, 2011, he became the first amateur rider to partner a Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup winner since Jim Wilson in 1981, when successful aboard Long Run, on whom he had also won the King George VI Chase at Kempton in 2011 and 2012. He started out on the point-to-point circuit and is now a high-profile amateur rider with several prestigious prizes under his belt. His first success under Rules came aboard Moscow Dancer in an amateur riders' handicap hurdle at Kelso on December 1, 2003. Liberthine gave Sam a first Cheltenham Festival victory in the 2005 Mildmay Of Flete Handicap Chase and the jockey has recorded four wins in total at the prestigious meeting. His record at Aintree is the envy of many professional riders, with three wins over the Grand National fences, the runner-up spot in the 2011 Grand National on Oscar Time and fourth on the same horse in 2013. His first triumph over the famous course came aboard his father's Katarino in the 2005 Crabbie's Fox Hunter's Chase. The pair followed up in the 2006 Crabbie's Fox Hunters' Chase and Sam enjoyed a fantastic double as he also guided Liberthine to victory in the following day's Crabbie's Topham Chase over the big spruce fences. He enjoyed Grade One success aboard Long Run in the williamhill.com Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton Park in 2009 and has since won five more top chases including three Grade Ones, the 2011 and 2012 William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton and the 2011 Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Crabbie's Grand National Record: 2007 Liberthine (5th); 2009 Ollie Magern (Fell 2nd); 2011 Oscar Time (2nd); 2013 Oscar Time (4th)

[Old Vic]

Will be interesting to see how he gets on today with Ruby up. Geraghty banned today but bit of a snub for AP or was the FA Cup a bigger priority for the champ