Long Run picks up the pace
Nicky Henderson is trying to bring Long Run “back to the boil” for the rearranged William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton next weekend.
The Seven Barrows handler had the six-year-old trained to the minute for Boxing Day, the original date of the Grade One chase.
It is now taking all of Henderson’s skill to bring him back to peak fitness some 20 days after he was originally going to run.
He has, however, no such worries with his other intended runner in the race, Riverside Theatre.
“Sam (Waley-Cohen, jockey) came down and rode him this morning and I’m actually quite pleased that he has just been able to come off the boil and now we are just bringing him back,” said Henderson.
“It’s a bit like a basic cookery course – which I know absolutely nothing about at all, as you can imagine.
“I think that is roughly what we are trying to do, just bring him back to the boil.
“Riverside is more straightforward in that respect.
“They both worked on Tuesday, they’ll do a bit over the weekend and then away we go.
“We just don’t need any more hold-ups with the weather now.”
Standing in their way, of course, is the legendary Kauto Star, bidding for a fifth straight win in the race.
His owner Clive Smith does not expect the delay to have any effect on the Paul Nicholls-trained 11-year-old.
Smith, currently enjoying a short break in Morocco, said: “I’ll be back in plenty of time for Kempton and I’m looking forward to it.
“Hopefully he can do his stuff and pull it off. He’s got some stiff opposition, but we know he’s in good shape and Paul has been able to keep him ticking over.
“It’s a few weeks later now but it’s the same for them all and I’m sure the trainers will have their horses just about right for the day.
“It would be a fantastic record if he can do it.
“In the world of National Hunt racing he’s a very good horse and to win five would be a true statement about him,” the owner told At The Races.
Kauto Star could have one less rival to face as Arkle winner Sizing Europe’s participation is not certain.
Trainer Henry de Bromhead and owners Alan and Ann Potts have still to commit to the rearranged race having travelled over to England from Ireland before Christmas.
“We haven’t made a final decision yet, we’re just looking at all our options at the moment so I wouldn’t like to say for sure what we are doing yet,” said De Bromhead.
Philip Hobbs intends to run Planet Of Sound, but does not want the Sunbury venue to be hit by too much rain beforehand.
The nine-year-old was third behind Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November on rain-softened ground.
Hobbs said: “I hope there’s not too much rain at Kempton as he doesn’t want soft ground.
“I’d be hopeful, although I wouldn’t think he could beat Kauto Star.”
