Never back Long Run first time out. Never back Long Run first time out. And repeat after me ... NEVER BACK LONG RUN FIRST TIME OUT! I'll hopefully practice what I preach next year
Scoped dirty apparrently ................. this from Racing Post: LONG RUN scoped badly after finishing only fifth at Wetherby on Saturday and could miss the Betfair Chase with the King George his next possible outing. The King George VI Chase and Gold Cup winner was finishing out of the first three for the first time since he arrived in Britain when beaten more than 40 lengths by Harry Topper when a 4-5 chance for the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase, so Henderson was relieved when an explanation for a performance that was totally out of character emerged so soon after the race. He said: "I must have had ten calls this morning from people telling me they've heard something is up with Long Run, but he's fine and I want to get that into everyone's head. That was far too bad to be true. He'd never run a race like it in his life and with no other explanation you had to assume it was clinical." He added: "We did take a scope off him after the race and it was a mess. There was a fair amount of gunge and blood and so on, and the vet scored it at three out of five, which is significant. It was quite surprising, as our own on Monday had been a hundred per cent, but five days can be a long time in a horse's life. "He's bumped into something, but I think the horses as a whole are healthy, thank goodness. We'll do it again tomorrow and get it to the laboratory, and then we'll have a picture, but in himself he's absolutely fine. He's sound and he's perfectly okay." Looking ahead Henderson is not ruling out Long Run making a third successive appearance in Haydock's Betfair Chase, in which he has been second for the last two years when making his reappearance, but he is open minded. He said: "We'll have to see what comes to light, but if he had to miss the Betfair Chase and wait for the King George then so be it. I'm pretty confident though that there's no long-term lasting damage done, either physically or in any other way." Henderson, who suffered a rare blank on Saturday, is looking forward to giving last season's smart novice chase Hadrian's Approach a Hennessy 'prep' in the 2m4f graduation chase at Kempton on Monday. The six-year-old is vying for favourtism for the big Newbury handicap with Alan King's Invictus, who is in the same ownership, with King's runner trading at a best-priced 10-1, while Hadrian's Approach is a general 12-1. Henderson said: "I'd quite like to get a race into him before the Hennessy and this seemed a perfectly good place to start, although he does stay well. He's in good form."
I only got to watch the race well after the event and so already knew what to look for, and from a long way out Long Run looked very much under par. Glad to hear that they have found the problem as it was a very poor race for both horse and trainer had they not found anything wrong with him... I hope he makes the BetFair, as im going to that, but to be honest i think the King George would be better for his next appearance...
Being a cycnical ol git I do wonder at these dirty scope excuses. Watching on Saturday Alice Plunket was beside herself with excitement at the appearance of Long Run. Absolute picture, pick of the paddock, Champion the ****ing wonder horse blah blah. Now as I understand it a dirty scope for a horse is like me having man flu. I look like absolute **** when I'm struck down with the lurgy.
Looking at it objectively, he was beaten fair and square in the Gold Cup last season and there is no reason to expect him to turn that around. He looks to be past his peak and I'd be amazed if he wins another Grade 1 race.
When THE NEW ONE met ROCK ON RUBY recently the ATR boys were all over ROR with how good he looked. Absolutely peak condition. After the event I read one tweet that was ridiculing THE NEW ONEs Champion Hurdle price saying all he had beaten was Rock On Ruby who looked like an equine Rik Waller! My point is. Its always after the event! People like Henderson and Fry don't send sick horses to the racecourse!
Please could I have this advice the day before next year Beef or Salmon rather than the day after? I thought he could not lose on paper but I think it's clear we have seen the best of him and that he is a regressive horse now. He will still run with credit I feel but cannot see him winning or even taking a close hand his target races this year. In my opinion Long Run never reached his potential for some reason. He rose so quickly in his career and looked like he would be a champion for years to come but has just never realised his undoubted champion potential on a regular basis as those before him such as Kauto and Best Mate etc. I am not sure his jumping matches his engine if I am honest and most races he will give SWC a taxi hailing moment. I am not sure if that's just how good his jumping is or if a top pro could instil in him more confidence and set him up just that fraction better to make a difference. Like most on here I think SWC is a fine amateur jockey and more than capable but he is not a top pro. I feel and agree it is the families right to dictate riding arrangements but also feel it must leave them wondering a little at the back of their mind. As a Henderson inmate he could have had the services of Barry G and were SWC a pro not many trainers would make that trade.
But he is 10/1 for the king george now! A HUGE price for a horse that is proven over that track. And apart from this week never been out the 1st 3, I have had a small e/w bet on at that price for the race!
Stan James have now gone 11’s re Long Run on St Stephen’s Day. I really do think some on here are being most unfair re Mr Henderson’s legendary steed. His record first time up (excluding Saturday when he was under the weather) reads a Grade 3 win, 2nd in a pair of Grade 1’s, 2nd in a Listed heat, on his racecourse bow no less, and 3rd in one of the most competitive handicaps of the season when conceding stacks of weight to the front 2. These runs incidentally earned connections over £177,000 – more than 99% of horses, in the UK, earn in their entire careers, let alone first time out. Long Run has proved himself a champion and a superstar and as similar attributes are relevant to his trainer, none other than the forum’s favourite, you can expect the old boy to be nursed back to full health prior to the full effects of Mr Henderson’s ‘magic hands’ working the oracle. Everyone is allowed an off day, people, and Long Run simply had his at the weekend. To my eye he’s still the most likely winner of the ‘King George VI’. His record at Kempers Park, don’t forget, on St Stephen’s Day or its rearranged fixture, reads -1121 (and the ‘2’ was a 1 length defeat by Kauto Star with the 3rd 17 lengths adrift). After that dare I whisper could he be the horse to win Mr Henderson his first Grand National?!?
Oddy, the realignment of the fences have made them a much different proposition from days of old. Horses can brush through the top of them nowadays and it not effect their momentum in the slightest. In last years race, don’t forget, only 2 horses actually fell! And anyway Long Run has never fallen in his life and has got Mr Sam Waley-Cohen, an excellent pilot, to guide him around the course. They seem a partnership as safe as the proverbial houses, methinks, and, in fact, I can already hear the cheers of thousands of Liverpudlians ringing in my ears!
Hope ur right Barney! But I do fear for him on the national! But I am a loyal supporter of his and will carry on backing him! But the king george he is a huge price for a horse who has only been out of the 1st 3 once!!
Re the GN, even going back to Rhyme 'n' Reason, the fences were much easier than they used to be. Apparently he was regarded the worst jumper in the race that year but still won.
Im not a fan of these new whispy national fences.... the National wasnt the spectacle it normally is and the excitement wasnt there at the same levels for me.. It looked odd with so many horses staying on their feet and the unique challenge to horse has been taken away somewhat! What do people think of Al Ferof's chances in the King George if he takes his chance and Nicholls gets him back to the same levels prior to his injury? He won the Paddy Power Gold Cup in some style..
