Waley-Cohen eager for Newbury run
Sam Waley-Cohen is taking nothing for granted as Long Run has his final run before defending his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown in tomorrow’s Betfair Denman Chase.
The Newbury Grade Two was saved from last weekend’s abandoned fixture, along with the bulk of the card, allowing Nicky Henderson’s star stayer to have one final prep run before next month’s Festival.
The seven-year-old has been beaten by the legendary Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase and the King George VI Chase so far this season and his jockey is keeping his fingers crossed he can get off the mark for the campaign at Newbury.
Long Run faces four rivals, with champion trainer Paul Nicholls saddling both What A Friend and Tidal Bay.
Henderson also runs the returning Burton Port, with David Bridgwater’s stable star The Giant Bolster completing the select field.
“It’s always really exciting riding Long Run and it’s going to be a good, competitive race,” said Waley-Cohen.
“You always want to win these races, but it isn’t going to be easy.
“A horse like What A Friend was only just fourth in the Gold Cup last year and we have to give him a significant amount of weight tomorrow, so you have to take that into consideration.
“It’s a warm race in it’s own right and an important prep on the road to Cheltenham.
“The run should set him up perfectly for the Gold Cup.”
Waley-Cohen does not believe the race being delayed almost a week will adversely effect Long Run’s Cheltenham preparations.
“The race is a bit closer to Cheltenham than it should have been, but there is more than enough time between Friday and the Gold Cup, so we’re very happy,” he added.
“He had an extra session with Yogi Breisner a week ago and it’s all systems go.”
The rider could so easily have been forced to sit out the race tomorrow, as he was originally set to be suspended.
But as the Scilly Isles Chase was also rescheduled, Waley-Cohen had a reprieve due to the rule stating bans can be deferred on days when Grade One races are run.
“I got a bit fortunate with that, but at the end of the day, it is all about getting Long Run to the Gold Cup in the best possible shape,” Waley Cohen continued.
“It would have been hugely disappointing to have missed the ride, but it’s great that I still have that opportunity.”
Burton Port is making his first competitive appearance since finishing second to Diamond Harry in the 2010 Hennessy Gold Cup at this track.
Connections still harbour Gold Cup ambitions for the eight-year-old, but want to see him perform well on his return.
Mick Meagher, racing manager for owner Trevor Hemmings, said: “Nicky is happy with his work at home and we obviously need to get him going and get on the road again.
“We had the option of running him at Ascot on Saturday but Nicky was happier to run him in a smaller field tomorrow than in the hustle and bustle of a handicap, where he would have carried top-weight.
“We just want to see him go and run well and we’ll know a lot more about where we’re going afterwards.”
What A Friend was beaten just a head by stablemate Noland in this race last year and runs for the first time since October.
“He doesn’t have a penalty for the race this year and the plan is to run here and then in the Cheltenham Gold Cup,” said Nicholls.
“We couldn’t run him after Wetherby as he came back a really sick horse.
“He’s way more forward in his coat than he was this time last year, so I can see him running really well.”
Tidal Bay ran well to finish second to Midnight Chase at Cheltenham last month and the champion trainer hopes to see him brush up his jumping.
“If I could get him jumping a bit better he’d be finishing a lot closer in his races. He gets no penalty and the race should suit him,” Nicholls added.
Bridgwater is under no illusions about the task facing The Giant Bolster, but he would rather run him in a race such as this than in a competitive handicap with a big weight.
“He’s absolutely flying and we’re taking on the big boys now, so we’ll see what happens,” said Bridgwater.
“You’ve got a Gold Cup winner and a Gold Cup third (What A Friend) and Tidal Bay always runs well in these sorts of races.
“There’s Burton Port in there as well and it’s a good old race.
“The top horse (Long Run) is different gravy, but you can make reasons why the others shouldn’t win, our horse included.
“I was a bit nervous about running him off his rating in a big handicap. In something like the Racing Plus Chase with a big weight, you’re going to have a hard race.
“Whereas tomorrow, with only five runners, you’re either going to be in it or you’re not and if you’re not in it, you can just coax him home.
“It might be a year too early for him, but we’ll have a crack.”
