Coasts clear for the chaser, Long Run, after the retirement of Kauto Star
When talking about the two fiercest rivalries in the horse racing industry, Frankel and Excelebration in flat racing, and Kauto Star and Long Run in jump racing, are hard to ignore. The marked difference between the two sets of competitors is highlighted
by the difference in their profiles. Frankel retired this season unbeaten, while the end of steeple chasing for the champion, Kauto Star, had quite a few bumps and bruises on the profile.
The Aidan O’Brien trained, Excelebration, toiled after the top miler and thoroughbred race horse in the world, while Long Run did match-up with the accomplishment level of the five-time King George VI winner, Kauto Star, to some extent.
Both the iconic racing sensations have retired now; Frankel and Kauto Star, leaving the tracks for their rivals to take and rule over.
The Nicky Henderson trained, Long Run, is to kick start the season by guarding his Grade 1 William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton.
The previous season began with Long Run taking the lead by winning the Grade 1 William Hill King George VI Chase on 15th January, 2011 at Kempton. The favourite entry, Kauto Star, had to make peace with the third position that he ended at.
Nearly ten months down the line, Kauto Star reinstated his champion form by defeating, Long Run, at Haydock and then at Kempton.
The most favoured entry, Long Run, ended as the runner-up in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock as Kauto Star landed the event by the margin of eight lengths.
The seven-year-old bay/brown French gelding, Long Run, then lost the winner’s prize money in the Grade 1 William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton.
This season, the brilliant chaser has got all the winning elements in his favour, and can easily settle all the previous accounts.
Long Run’s jockey, Mr. S. Waley-Cohen stated:
"We are pleased with Long Run. He has developed into a big, strong racehorse which we are all very excited about. He seems to have had a good summer and looks great," said the jockey.
"I think you would have to say he didn't achieve the heights last season that he achieved the year before. You always set your aspirations by what you have done in the past, but in many ways you can't be disappointed about being beaten by arguably the greatest
horse of all time.
"We were never out of the first three, having run in top-class company, and although we did not get the results we wanted, you can't be too disappointed either."
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