Long Run confirmed for RSA Chase

Owner Robert Waley-Cohen has confirmed the RSA Chase is the intended target for Long Run following his impressive display at Warwick on Saturday.

The French import was a brilliant winner of the Feltham Novices’ Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day but dropped back from three miles to two miles in Saturday’s Kingmaker Novices’ Chase.

The descent in distance did not change the result as he again proved far too good for his rivals.

But providing conditions are not heavy, Nicky Henderson’s five-year-old will step back up in trip for the RSA Chase, rather than line up in the Arkle Trophy.

“I was extremely happy with him and he is just a class horse,” said Waley-Cohen.

“This is no disrespect to the other horses, but he was just a cut above on the day and we couldn’t have asked any more of him.

“He made one or two slight jumping errors but they were extremely minor.

“He’s come out of the race absolutely fine and we are now looking forward to Cheltenham.

“We all slept on it on Saturday night and we’ve decided we’re going to go for the RSA Chase.

“Things might change if the ground becomes very testing but if the ground is like Simon Claisse (clerk of the course) brilliantly produces it – the usual good to soft ground or just on the softer side – he’ll go for the RSA.”