Outside status suits Waley-Cohen ahead of Gold Cup showdown

As chairman of Cheltenham Racecourse, it should be Waley-Cohen’s duty to present the trophy to the winning connections – but he has already entrusted this responsibility to his deputy.

As for his son, one of horse racing’s great Corinthians as he combines riding with a flourishing business career, he has already forewarned his wife Bella that the Gold Cup will take precedence over the birth of their first child who is due to be born, in a coincidence of timing, next Friday.

Such matters have provided a welcome distraction to a sporting family who were consumed by pressure two years ago when Long Run confirmed his rich potential, outbattling the legendary Kauto Star and Denman in an epic race, and then 12 months ago when they lost their cherished crown to an AP McCoy-inspired Synchronised.

Now the Waley-Cohens head to Cheltenham in the unaccustomed position of being fourth favourite – even though the ultra-consistent Long Run has finished no worse than third in each of his 16 steeplechase starts.

The phenomenally consistent horse’s last outing, a battling victory in Kempton’s King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, has still not silenced those who say that the eight-year-old is past his best or should be ridden by the aforementioned McCoy – the no-nonsense view of top Irish trainer Ted Walsh, who believes the horse would be vying for favouritism if Waley-Cohen jocked off his own son.

At around 7-1 in the betting market, Waley-Cohen senior is almost insulted by the generosity of the bookmakers’ odds, even more so given the fact that Nicky Henderson intends to fit cheekpieces to Long Run to help improve the gelding’s concentration.

“It was great to win back the King George and the horse has come out of it in very good order,” the owner told the Yorkshire Post.

“He probably idled a bit when he passed Champion Court on the home turn, but he rallied again when Captain Chris pulled alongside at the last.

“We do feel like we’re slightly under the radar.

“The first year, we were expected to win and we had all the pressure last year of being defending champion when the horse probably wasn’t quite right.

“Should Bella go into labour on Gold Cup day, Sam has already agreed with her that the race will come first – and then he’ll dash to hospital like a knight in shining armour.

“As the owner of a leading runner, I did not think it would be right if I also presided over the presentation ceremony. It is one of Cheltenham’s enduring traditions that the chairman presents the prizes for the four most prestigious races – and Lord Vestey always had great fun when it came to presenting the Gold Cup on three occasions to his sister-in-law Henrietta Knight when Best Mate triumphed.”

As for Long Run, it was during a visit to Paris that Waley-Cohen spotted a horse in the paddock that had been foaled by Libertina.

It was Libertina who had also given birth to the brilliant mare Liberthine who won the Topham Trophy over Aintree’s fearsome Grand National fences in 2006.

Once the deal for Long Run had been struck, Waley-Cohen had the patience to allow his new acquisition to win a Grade One hurdle race in France before winning over fences at the very highest level.

For a great big, strapping horse, the November 2008 at Auteuil in the Racing Post Prix Cambaceres is one of the most satisfying of Waley-Cohen’s career in racing.

Likewise his horse’s liking for Kempton. As well as beating Keith Reveley’s Tazbar in the Feltham Chase on Boxing Day 2009, Long Run has contested three King Georges, winning twice and finishing second to a revitalised Kauto Star on the other occasion.

“Not many people know that he’s the only horse to win a Grade One in France and England as a four-year-old,” he added.

“His chase win at Auteuil came in May 2009 and then he took the Feltham in December of that year. These are not minor races, and that is why we go to Cheltenham full of confidence – I’m struggling to think of a horse who has been more consistent over fences.”