Long Run to take down Kauto Star in his seasonal debut in the Grade 1 Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase at Cheltenham
According to many Kauto Star’s victory is inevitable in the Grade 1, £284, 750 Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase but the last year’s champion of the race, Long Run, has all the intentions of defending his title this time around.
Long Run’s strongest asset for assuring success today is his stamina that matters more than speed in a chase. Cadoudal’s seven-year-old bay gelding out of mare Libertina, has won the seasonal debut and had scored second in the final two starts of the previous season.
Long Run was the 7/2 favourite winner of the Grade 1 Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase on 18th March 2011 at Cheltenham over three miles and two and a half furlong. He battled through the track against the two times winner of the Gold Cup, Kauto Star.
Denman was the runner up of the race.
The star who was trying to defend his title after having it won in 2007 and 2009, failed to attach it against his name as a victory for a third time.
Long Run did finish second against Kauto Star twice, first in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase on 19th November at Haydock over three miles and then in the Grade 1 William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton over three miles on 26th December.
Long Run was the 6/5 favourite and then entered as the evening’s favourite in the final race of the new season against Kauto Star.
The competitive edge that Long run holds as opposed to Kauto Star is the training, practice and form that he has been exposed to lately and that is something which Kauto Star has not experienced since the final outing of 2011.
Racing as the favourite for fourth time straight in a row, Long Run won the Grade 2 Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury over three miles on 17th February. Burton Port was the runner up of the race while finishing right after him was What A Friend.
The distance today complements Long Run’s strength and despite the fact that Kauto Star won the Cup twice, Long Run is the betting favourite and there is hardly a doubt in his being send as a favourite yet again.
Same jockey, same distance, same race course and the same rival added with the same result that came out last year will be a dream come true for Long Run.
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