Long Run to get National 'saver'

Owner Robert Waley-Cohen has revealed Long Run will be given an entry in the Grand National next year.

While it is unlikely Long Run will run in both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Aintree spectacular in the same season, an attempt at the world’s greatest steeplechase is an option in the future.

Still only eight years old, the dual King George VI Chase hero is set to run in the Bet Online With The Tote.com Punchestown Gold Cup on April 24, as long as the ground is suitable.

“I wouldn’t run him (at Punchestown) if there was the word firm in the going description – good, good to yielding, yielding, somewhere thereabouts would be perfect, but if it comes up good to firm he won’t run,” Waley-Cohen told At the Races.

“It can dry up quickly at Punchestown but if the ground is right he will run.

“The cheekpieces made him an easier ride (in the Gold Cup), but he ran very well and jumped very well. They helped him concentrate and focus and maybe that’s what helped him to jump better.

“I think he’s still got lots of big races to win. If we do go to Punchestown it’s a proper Grade One. There’s Sir Des Champs and First Lieutenant, who’s just won a Grade One at Aintree, so it’s a high-class race.

“I hope we can go and win that, and the target next year would be to try to win a third King George and hopefully a second Gold Cup.

“I will also put him in the National as a saver because I think he would enjoy that, but I’m not sure whether he could run in both the Gold Cup and the National in the same season so we will have to make calls as the season evolves.”

Waley-Cohen’s colours have been carried to great effect in the Grand National by Oscar Time, who was second in 2011 and fourth in this season’s renewal.

However, he sustained a slight injury and is out for the rest of the campaign.

“He lost a shoe at Becher’s second time round and sustained a very small injury which is being treated. He’s coming home today and that’s it for the season,” he said.