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Long Run was reported to have grown and strengthened over the close season, and has probably improved commensurately. However, his jumping hasn’t, and that’s why it’s yet to show in his results.
There’s little doubt he’s got a terrific engine, as he showed in the KG, when he kept coming back at Kauto after each poor jump, but until he learns to fence properly (if ever), won’t realise anything like his full potential. It may seem trite to say such things about a steeplechase, but, had he jumped better, he would have won easily, and we’d all be hailing the second coming.Zip, I reckon there’s every chance you would not be losing out on that bet.
Reet hard, we are definitely singing from the same hymn sheet. I think his jumping at the moment is keeping him from being an absolute superstar. He never looks like falling, and as you say has such a great engine that he manages to make up for it between fences, but the ground lost and more importantly the impetus lost by not landing running, is costing him when he comes up against a horse like Kauto Star.I know I’m going to get accused of sounding like a broken record, but I don’t think Sam Waley Cohen gives the horse confidence. I think Long Run has won despite him rather than for him.
Please God, Nicky Henderson, or even the tooth fairy, let Robert and Sam Cohen see that this horse is begging for a top class jockey to ride him. I don’t wish Sam any ill will, but maybe if he had a little bout of gout on the 16th March, we might just get to see how good this horse is.
Long Run was reported to have grown and strengthened over the close season, and has probably improved commensurately. However, his jumping hasn’t, and that’s why it’s yet to show in his results.
There’s little doubt he’s got a terrific engine, as he showed in the KG, when he kept coming back at Kauto after each poor jump, but until he learns to fence properly (if ever), won’t realise anything like his full potential. It may seem trite to say such things about a steeplechase, but, had he jumped better, he would have won easily, and we’d all be hailing the second coming.Come on, Reet…shall we go through every decent horse in the history of jumps racing and see which ones "would’ve been a superstar if only they had jumped?"
I think not.
Jumping is just one facet to winning a race, an important one I grant you, but so is pace….and this horse is slower than Kauto.
So, if Kauto had continually fallen in big races we would be saying he could be a superstar if getting it together?
Well, he does jump well and he is a superstar and that is why he is the better horse. The horse is now 12 ffs!!!
I don’t go with Sam Waley-Cohen making the difference. The horse lost fair and square in the King George.
Zip
Reading what some of you are saying you’d think Long Run had made some really bad jumps that were costing him massive amounts of ground. Not once did I hear ""Bad mistake by Long Run" nor is there any mention of errors in the form book.
Even at the last, the only fence where you could say he never landed running is exaggerating it a bit.
Apart from being closer to the pace earlier than he has been in most King George’s, Ruby rode the same race he did when riding Kauto to victory in 4 other KG’s. Between 5 out and 3 out he increased the pace and it’s race over.
He’s not as fast as he once was which allowed Long Run to get very close to him but the idea was exactly the same.
Long Run was certainly brushing through the top of his fences like he did in France but there were no heart stopping errors. Where Long Run was really struggling was keeping up with Kauto on the flat when Ruby said go.
Had that been the Kauto of old Long Run wouldn’t have got near him as he would have increased the 2 to 3 lengths he had gained on him turning for home. As it turned out Kauto didn’t find that explosive turn of foot he’s been famous for most of his life he just kept going and still kept Long Run at bay despite him starting to tire near the finish.
Had Kauto been still full of beans as he approached the last he would have launched himself at the fence and put in one of those spectacular jumps of his, but obviously starting to feel the pinch he went to his left to correct himself and lost a length but regained it when still managing an excellent jump at the last, when Long Run was a bit lower but still landed running and would have caught Kauto in another few strides as his old legs were starting to go.
Apart from reverting to his natural way of jumping when the pressure was applied Long Run has jumped well and I doubt if he will ever do anything else as long as he’s around.
The very thought of blaming Sam is totally wrong. He’s ridden a first class race had the horse in the right place all the way round. To say if Barry Geharty had ridden him he would have won is pure speculation. I’d love to know what Barry would have done to stop him being outpaced all the way up the straight or prevent him from doing it his way. If there’s one thing Sam is good at it’s presenting his horse at a fence. I still blame him for one huge mistake at Haydock when he asked for a big one when he didn’t have to but he’s done nothing wrong, far from it, here.
Long Run is a very good horse but you fans of his should face facts , he is no Kauto Star, not now and not in the future and not only because of his low jumping habit.
I don’t think you can read too much into Kauto Star jumping left at the last. If you look back at replays from his previous victories in the race, he has always dived left. This was true in his second victory when clearing it with feet to spare and winning on the bridle, and especially so in his fourth when absolutely cantering home. Ruby really has to yank on the reins to stop him taking the wrong course sometimes!
Check out the head-on shots in many of the Kauto Star tribute videos on YouTube to see what I mean.
I am not saying he didn’t finish fairly weary but this particular habit is just standard for KS.
- Total Posts 17716
Zip/HGM
The point I was making is that Long Run isn’t slow, as his 2 previous c/d victories (One at a slower pace than this season, one at quicker) clearly show. However, he did make a series of jumps where he lost ground on Kauto – in the air, and coming away from the obstacle – at 5 of the last 6 fences, each one costing him a minimum of 2l, which he mostly made up on the flat.
It takes no genius in maths to figure out these errors cost him a deal more than 1.25l he was beaten by.
I should also say that nowhere did I blame his jockey – as I was at pains to point out earlier, I didn’t know whether it was SWC’s or LR’s problem, and I’d doubt others can say with certainty; until we’ve seen them separated.Why would you say that? I’m new to this forum, I certainly don’t want to fall out with anyone, and all I have done is give my honest opinion, which is no better than your honest opinion.
I love discussing horses, I think this is an excellent forum and I have enjoyed reading many of your and others posts on here.
That is just uncalled for.
Sorry BigG. I don’t want to fall out with anyone either, it’s just that you kept on repeating yourself as if you were going to persuade someone if you repeated yourself enough!!!!
I also think that Long Run was beaten fair and square on 2 occasions and not because of any fault on the jockey’s part – after all SWC won the King George and Gold Cup last year and I dare say he knows the horse even better this year.
Thisthatandother, I have repeated myself because that is what I believe, and I have not kept repeating it except when it has been in the context of replying to someone who has further commented. You have equally repeated yourself many times making your point clear, albeit you take a different view from me….I don’t have any problem with that.
You say to me that you don’t want to fall out with anyone either. Then can I suggest that you don’t make comments like "BigG, you’re full of it".
It’s not like I have taken that comment out of context, that was the only thing you wrote.
Some people have agreed with my views on Long Run, and some have not. I have not tried to persuade anyone. As I have said, this is my viewpoint, and as I have stated in my posts more than once, my viewpoint is no better or worse than someone else’s. I thought that was what a forum was for.
Zip/HGM
The point I was making is that Long Run isn’t slow, as his 2 previous c/d victories (One at a slower pace than this season, one at quicker) clearly show. However, he did make a series of jumps where he lost ground on Kauto – in the air, and coming away from the obstacle – at 5 of the last 6 fences, each one costing him a minimum of 2l, which he mostly made up on the flat.
It takes no genius in maths to figure out these errors cost him a deal more than 1.25l he was beaten by.
I should also say that nowhere did I blame his jockey – as I was at pains to point out earlier, I didn’t know whether it was SWC’s or LR’s problem, and I’d doubt others can say with certainty; until we’ve seen them separated.Geezus Reet that the worst post I have ever read from you.
Terrible race read my friend
As I have said, this is my viewpoint, and as I have stated in my posts more than once, my viewpoint is no better or worse than someone else’s.
Except mines of course
I think ‘You must appreciate and accept that all of Hurdygurdyman’s posts are gospel and you must
not
challenge them in any way’ is the 6th TRF rule, isn’t it?
Zip/HGM
The point I was making is that Long Run isn’t slow, as his 2 previous c/d victories (One at a slower pace than this season, one at quicker) clearly show. However, he did make a series of jumps where he lost ground on Kauto – in the air, and coming away from the obstacle – at 5 of the last 6 fences, each one costing him a minimum of 2l, which he mostly made up on the flat.
It takes no genius in maths to figure out these errors cost him a deal more than 1.25l he was beaten by.
I should also say that nowhere did I blame his jockey – as I was at pains to point out earlier, I didn’t know whether it was SWC’s or LR’s problem, and I’d doubt others can say with certainty; until we’ve seen them separated.Lol, interesting THEORY, Reet.
Do you apply it to all close finishes to find the
real
winner in jump races?
Few, if any on here, are saying Long Run is slow…he’s just not as quick or good as Kauto. Surely that is as clear as day.
So if Kauto beats him 1 length in the Gold Cup but Long Run doesn’t jump perfectly are we going to be subjected to more theory as to how he is the best horse? Ridiculous buddy!
Zip
To be fair I should elaborate Reet.
What you failed to do in that post is give any credit for ground gained or lost to the absolutely brilliant jumping of Kauto Star at 5 of the last 6 fences.
Long Run brushed his legs through the same fence as Master Minded made a bad mistake and Kauto himself was far from brilliant it certainly never cost Long Run 2 lengths nor did any other jump he made.
What did cost him ground was he couldn’t match Kauto for pace when Ruby, like he has done in every King George he has won, upped the tempo after 5 out.
Long Run came immediately under pressure and Kauto gained a good couple of lengths when he skipped round the home turn on the flat with Sam rowing away just to try and keep up.
Long Run gained nothing until Kauto began to slow approaching the last and Kauto’s lack of stamina combined with Long Run’s superior stamina, not speed, kicked in.
Kauto is still a faster horse than Long Run on the flat despite his years and Long Run never gained a yard on him between fences as you insinuated, not one inch Reet never mind 2 lengths a fence.
Unfortunately the read of the race also confirmed to me 3 miles is as far as Kauto wants to go at this level these days. With that acceleration that shot him clear in 2 Gold Cups at exactly the right time curbed he’ll be hard pushed to stop Long Run who stays and stays winning the Gold Cup.
- Total Posts 17716
Zip
You need to distinguish between theory and facts.
I’ve reported the finish of the KG exactly as I saw it, and if you’d like to point out to me where LR didn’t lose ground at – or soon after – 5 of those last 6 fences, you might return the compliment?
For your(and HGM’s) benefit, I will reiterate one last time the point I have been at pains to make, viz;- Long Rundoes not
jump as efficiently or as effectively as Kauto Star, and that is his undoing, not any lack of speed otherwise.
KS is clearly the better horse, even at his age; the point is it might not be so – if LR ever learned to jump properly.Zip
You need to distinguish between theory and facts.
I’ve reported the finish of the KG exactly as I saw it, and if you’d like to point out to me where LR didn’t lose ground at – or soon after – 5 of those last 6 fences, you might return the compliment?
For your(and HGM’s) benefit, I will reiterate one last time the point I have been at pains to make, viz;- Long Rundoes not
jump as efficiently or as effectively as Kauto Star, and that is his undoing, not any lack of speed otherwise.
KS is clearly the better horse, even at his age; the point is it might not be so – if LR ever learned to jump properly.Err, your "facts" are based on your theory re the ground you think LR lost in the King George!!
Really, I think you need to give up this pointless point you’re trying to make. How many horses could be better if they jumped better? Plenty. If Kauto, or any other horse for that matter, did X, Y and Z better they’d….be better.
Long Run
did not
lose ground because of jumping erros (I’ve just watched the whole race on Youtube again to be sure IMHO), he wasn’t quick enough to keep up – on this point I am in complete concurrence with HurdgyGurdyBurdy.
If long Run reverses from with Kauto it won’t be beacuse he suddenly jumps better, it’ll be because he stays better. However, I don’t think Kauto has any problem staying Chelters whatsoever and if the engine can keep going he’ll regain his title and become immortal.
Zip
I truly hope he does but I just can’t see it Zippy and the thought of it makes me cringe. 
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