Trainer, Nicky Henderson positive about Long Run’s participation in the King George VI Chase
With the brilliant steeplechaser, Kauto Star, trained by, Paul Nicholls, out of the way after retiring to stud at the beginning of this season, the venues for Long Run, have become brighter and easier. The seven-year-old trained by Nicky Henderson, has already achieved high profile bench marks and has brought back pride to the stables time and again.
The French bay/brown gelding ended as the runner-up in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase (Registered As The Lancashire Chase) on 24th November, 2012 at Haydock race course over three miles.
The favourite entry for the race finished 2 ½ lengths behind the Paul Nicholls’ trained, Silviniaco Conti. The winner had the champion jockey, Ruby Walsh, onboard.
The next to best in the race was paired up with jockey, Mr. S. Waley-Cohen, and the duo will make the best out of the partnership in the King George VI Chase that has been selected as the next mile stone for the Robert Waley-Cohen owned.
The rider with whom Long Run ended second at Haydock, is convinced that the trip will prove helpful in the next very important outing.
"We were pleased with the run. We thought it was a good introduction to the season and gives us a good platform to go to the King George on," said Waley-Cohen.
"It's always disappointing not to win, but he's run up to a similar mark to his first runs of the season over the last couple of years. He's got to improve from there, but in all his previous seasons he has and we hope he will again.”
"He ran a good race yesterday and you always have to decide in one of those races whether that's the day to go to the bottom of the tank, and it wasn't.”
The line-up for the grand event includes the arch rival’s entry, Silviniaco Conti, Paul Nicholls’ trained who landed the Betfair Chase.
For trainer, Nicky Henderson, the weekend will prove to be extremely busy, and in case everything goes according to plan then the days will turn out to be the most lucrative too.
He has Finian’s Rainbow taking part in the Amlin Chase and has directed Oscar Whisky for a hurdle at Ascot in which four runners will participate.
The collective prize money of the participation can lead to around £200,000 in about fifty-five minutes.
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