Tension gives way to showdown between Gold Cup’s great rivals

Last year’s blue riband signalled a changing of the guard, with Long Run becoming the first six-year-old to win since Mill House, consigning the great Kauto Star to minor honours, and when Paul Nicholls’s superstar then went on to run disappointingly in Ireland, the calls for an honourable retirement reached fever pitch.

But the dual Gold Cup hero has bounced back to his imperious best this season, jumping and galloping a supposedly unfit Long Run into submission in the Betfair Chase before confirming his superiority in almost indentical fashion to claim an unprecedented fifth King George triumph.

With the score at 2-2, the stage was set for the decider at the Festival and with Long Run winning his prep at Newbury well enough, the head-to-head appeared to be gearing up nicely – until Kauto Star capsized during a schooling session, leaving Nicholls to reveal that he was only ‘50-50’ to even make the line-up.

The racing world has been on tenterhooks since, avidly taking in the daily bulletins from Ditcheat, with the legendary 12-year-old undergoing an intensive rehabilitation process, and he began to make some progress.

The vibes got stronger, and Nicholls even allowed the public to see him gallop at Wincanton last week, after which the champion trainer couldn’t hide his delight that his pride and joy was seemingly back on song.

A foot-perfect schooling session on Monday had Nicholls purring, and the clash of the giants is back on.

“Kauto has astounded us this year and he now seems in really good form,” said the Ditcheat handler.

“He ran really well at Haydock, when Long Run came to him and he completely outstayed him, and his performance at Kempton in the King George was incredible.

“It’s a different track at Cheltenham, but if he runs to the form of Kempton and Haydock then he has a massive chance.

“His record speaks for itself and it would be awesome for everyone involved if he could win another Gold Cup.

“If he wins, then great, but if not, he’s 12 and he has been the most fantastic horse to train.”

Jockey Ruby Walsh has been amazed by Kauto Star’s recovery since his schooling fall, but is aware Long Run is “a very strong stayer”.

The jockey said: “He seems very well again and they’ve done a great job with him.

“He’s beaten Long Run twice this season but Long Run is a very strong stayer.

“We’ve seen what form Nicky Henderson’s horses are in this week so he’s going to be very hard to beat.”

Despite being the defending champion, Long Run will be viewed as the party pooper if he defeats Kauto Star.

But with Henderson’s yard in red-hot form, confidence in the Seven Barrows camp is high that he can retain his crown.

“The score is 2-2 and this is the decider, so let’s hope it’s a great race,” said Henderson.

“He is seriously well and everything has gone great.

“We’re happy where we are and Paul Nicholls is happy where he is, and I’d have been genuinely sad if Kauto Star came there and wasn’t at his best.

“Kauto Star thumped us two times so we’ve got to get back and beat him.

“National Hunt racing wants this to happen.

“There are lots of great races in the week, but I hope this is the highlight.”

Robert Waley-Cohen owns Long Run and is also chairman of Cheltenham racecourse.

As if that is not enough pressure, the seven-year-old gelding will be ridden by his son, Sam.

“Newbury was a wonderful, confidence-giving race,” said Waley-Cohen Snr.

“It was a high-class field and we were giving weight to the ones that looked likely to finish closest to us.

“He beat them all, broke the track record off 11st 10lb on good to soft ground, and jumped immaculately.

“The Gold Cup is the holy grail and it’s the one what we want to win.”

In-form jockey Barry Geraghty rides Burton Port, who was second to his stable companion in the Denman Chase, but expects to have it all to do when up against Long Run.

“I think the track will suit him, although I’m sure it will also suit Long Run a whole lot better,” said Geraghty.

“We were trying to get him into the race without giving him a hard race (at Newbury).

“He ran on from the last and I asked for every effort, but I didn’t give him a hard race.

“Long Run was only doing what he had to do in front, but it was a good run.

“In the Gold Cup we’ll know where we stand and know then if he’s well handicapped for the Grand National.”