Long Run…………

[TomBarkley87]

Long Run – sheer enigma or merely a good horse that peaked too soon? Was he brilliant at his best or was he lucky to be around at a time when top drawer staying chasers were thin on the ground? Either way it must be significantly relevant that his chances of regaining that Gold Cup crown are looking dimmer and dimmer, especially as, as the weeks go on more and more Gold Cup candidates are coming out of the woodwork for next March.

Now I could be being particularly harsh here, especially considering that the horse has never finished outside of the places since crossing over to these shores, but surely another mediocre showing in the King George on Boxing Day could signal the end to his brief moment in the sun as one of racings’ premier chasers? How then could this problem be rectified? Robert Waley-Cohen will know better than anyone what a prodigious talent he possesses, but must also notice at some point that unless Mr Henderson can pull off a minor miracle that Long Run just isn’t up there with the best of what’s now become a good solid bunch of staying chasers. Will running in the race for the sake of it be enough for him? I shouldn’t think so. I’ve seen the odd mention on here of people trying to aim the horse at Aintree, which is surely utterly ludicrous. If the horse can’t jump then how’s he supposed to handle the National fences?

So what of the World Hurdle? RWC is a huge Cheltenham ambassador and the chairman of the course, and will want his prized asset contending for a top race at the festival. Much in the manner that we saw of Big Buck’s, what chance we see Long Run line up in the Cleeve Hurdle if he flops again next time out? It would certainly liven things up for the reigning champ at least

Personally I can’t ever see it happening but the forum’s been dead all day so I thought I’d try and liven it up a bit

[The Young Fella]

I expect connections to persist with Long Run over fences given that he has done the job in the past. Even so, I just don’t think he looks like the same horse he used to be.

I know Tazbar is a far cry from Kauto Star, Silviniaco Conti and co, but there is a marked difference in how well Long Run moved in the Feltham to his typical way of travelling nowadays. He sauntered along in his novice year, kicking the fences out of the ground and still winning on the bridle. Nowadays, he makes less mistakes yet tends to be off the bridle by the end of the back straight. He seems to lack the zest and enthusiasm of his younger days, in my opinion.

[MarkTT]

I think they should try to front run, especially with Sam onboard. He’s not consistent like the other jockeys he races, so most times in a jumping battle he’s going to lose. No surprise that the same tactic on Conti as Kauto at Haydock finished with the same result.

That same meeting Ruby stoked up Poliglote very early to ensure the horse was motoring down the soft Haydock straight. Sam doesn’t have that tactical nous.

One things for sure – it’s not a natural for British fences

[Author]

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