Waley-Cohen ponders on Long Run

Wetherby flop Long Run is not certain to bid for redemption in the Betfair Chase at Haydock next week.
Long Run and Sam Waley CohenLong Run and Sam Waley Cohen
Long Run and Sam Waley Cohen

Nicky Henderson’s 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and dual King George hero disappointed for the first time in his career when unplaced in the Charlie Hall Chase late last month.

Still only eight, Long Run returned a dirty scope afterwards and connections will only ask him to take on the likes of Bobs Worth and Silviniaco Conti if they are convinced the gelding is back on form.

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“There are lots of different theories but nothing conclusive as yet,” said owner Robert Waley-Cohen.

“We’ve not decided if he’s going to run in the Betfair at Haydock yet. He will be prepared for the race but he will only go if we are 100 per cent happy with him.

“There’s no point going for a race like that against the best horses around if you are even one per cent below your best.

“The horse will tell us if he’s ready or not.

“That was the first time he’d been out of the first three in 27 starts, so you’d have to think something wasn’t right.”

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Waley-Cohen admits to being excited at the prospect of Rajdhani Express running in Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

The six-year-old won the Rewards4Racing Novices’ Handicap Chase over the same two-mile four-and-a-half-furlong course at the Festival in March, but he has a 15lb higher mark to overcome this weekend.

Long Run was beaten in the first major handicap of the jumps season off a mark of 158 in 2010, but it did not do him any harm as he returned to win the blue riband the following March.

While Rajdhani Express has never been talked of in the same terms by Waley-Cohen or Henderson, he progressed at a rate of knots in the second half of last season.

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“It’s always exciting when these second-season novices get to test their mettle against their elders. You never quite know how they are going to fare, you don’t know how good the novices were the year before. All we know about him is that he doesn’t like it very heavy, and it doesn’t look like it will be,” said Waley-Cohen.

“The ground looks like it is going to be perfect so we must congratulate Simon Claisse (clerk of the course) for that.

“Dynaste is obviously the one to beat but whether he will run or not, we don’t know yet.”

Trainer Martin Keighley is in confident mood as he prepares Champion Court for the Paddy Power.

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Fourth in the King George last season, he did even better when winning over the same course and distance of this weekend’s highlight in April.

“I’ve been really pleased with his preparation. He had a nice racecourse gallop around Wincanton and I couldn’t be happier with him. This race has always been the plan, it looks ideal. From the end of last season, we put him away for this as he runs well fresh. He’s got everything in his favour and looking at the forecast it will be lovely, good ground,” said the Gloucestershire handler.

Rajdhani Express and Champion Court are two of 28 possibles for the first feature handicap of the season. Henderson has slimmed his team down to three, with top-weight Finian’s Rainbow and Nadiya De La Vega still also in the mix. Dynaste remains a possible for David Pipe, as are stablemates Salut Flo and Ballynagour.

Jonjo O’Neill’s Johns Spirit has been well backed since winning at Cheltenham’s first meeting of the season, while Katenko may attempt to make up for lost time for the in-form Venetia Williams having had last season cut short by injury.

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Attaglance is in there for Norton handler Malcolm Jefferson, while Old Roan Chase winner Conquisto may run for Steve Gollings, and Tap Night, Walkon, Battle Group and Vino Griego are other notable possibles.

The Irish raiding party has diminished, with only Hidden Cyclone, Texas Jack, Gift Of Dgab and Sean Airgead remaining as Willie Mullins has taken out Marito and his other entries.

The highlight of Sunday’s card at Prestbury Park is the StanJames.com Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham, in which Sabrina Harty is considering giving Kalann his first run back over jumps.

The six-year-old only returned from injury with a spin on the Flat at Dundalk last month, but he also holds an entry at the all-weather circuit on Friday.

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Kalann is a course winner but was sidelined for 17 months after sustaining an injury in the 2012 Champion Hurdle won by Rock On Ruby.

“We might run him at Cheltenham if the ground comes up good. The forecast is pretty favourable so we left him in and we’ll see how the week goes. He seems in good form after his run at Dundalk and we’re happy with him,” said County Kildare-based Harty.

“We gave him a good rest after he picked up an injury in the Champion Hurdle. It wasn’t bad, but he’s a young horse and we wanted to give him plenty of time.

“He’s very well and fresh in himself and loves good ground. He has a nice weight and is only 1lb higher than he is over here in Ireland.”