Yearly Archives: 2011
Grand Annual Chase
Cheltenham Grand Annual Chase
Cheltenham Festival race guide – Grand Annual Chase betting
Four days of racing draw to a close and IMSINGINGTHEBLUES can land the spoils in the lucky last at the 2011 Cheltenham Festival. David Pipe’s representative has been in and out of form recently and although his last win came in 2009, this older horse may have another big run left in him. Anquetta has displayed a level of maturity winning his last two despite his disliking of a crack with the whip in the first of those at Leicester. Also, Dan Breen and Oh Crick are not out of this should they stay the trip. We have previews for each Cheltenham race on day one, as well as all the latest odds and free bets.
Grand Annual Chase odds
This, the oldest race at the festival, gives those handicappers who are keen on giving their running over the minimum chasing distance. Those that enter this race are not out and out staying chasers so a crack at a lesser distance should prove just the tonic for many of the runners. Pigeon Island grabbed the headlines for the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard in the last renewal beating the Nicky Henderson trained French Opera by a length-and-a-quarter. Henderson always goes all out to win this once since the name of his father Johnny was added to the races title in 2005. So you can be sure he’ll give it his best possible shot once more but can he add to his 2006 success where Greenhope ran out a very sentimental winner which he dedicated to his late father?
Handicapping
The trials from this race are uncertain in the sense that handicappers come from all angles to compete in the Grand Annual Chase. So when the full list of runners is announced don’t so much concentrate on the path these horses have taken but more their handicap ratings. Horses under a strong stranglehold from the handicap might just be weighted out of this one, but those who are likely to improve in their handicapping career should be considered. Pigeon Island won at 16/1 last time and but had placed in three of his last five starts prior to this race. He probably wasn’t handicapped as harshly for those placings whereas if he had won them he may have found this contest much more difficult. A progressive horse is well capable of winning a race of this nature so make sure you select them wisely.
Ruby Walsh has saddled two winners in the last ten years for Paul Nicholls in 2004 and 2007. they stand a chance in every race they enter, and must be taken seriously should they be able to repeat their previous successes. Two seven-year-olds have won two of the last four renewals both carrying around the ten stone marker. This trend could continue in the lucky last as we prepare to say goodbye to the 2011 Cheltenham Festival. But hey, there’s always next year!
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Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle
Cheltenham Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle
Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle betting verdict
Trainer Alan King is optimistic about Vendor’s chances of justifying favouritism in the Fred Winter this year. The juvenile hurdler won his prep race at Newbury last time in pleasing style and tops the betting from the Paul Nicholls-trained Hinterland, who is also entered for the Triumph and Supreme Novices’. Get a free £25 bet with William Hill.
Jockey and trainer records in the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle
Five different jockeys and trainers have posed for photographs in Cheltenham’s winning enclosure at the end of the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle. Last year it was the deadly duo of Ruby Walsh and Paul Nicholls who claimed success with Sanctuaire (4/1) who won it easily by nine lengths to closest challenger Notus De La Tour. This result aside though, the previous two winners of this contest have rewarded punters at double figure prices so it could pay once more to look further down the market. Remember that all the horses tackling this handicap are in the early stages of their development and there are going to be setbacks and mishaps in the race, but the real question is who can make the least errors for victory?
Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle betting pointers
Relatively few obstacles have to be overcome as these runners toe their racing feet, so keep a look out for those that travel and take their flights well in the trials runs before the race in March. Horses that won last time out have won every Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle so monitor those progressive juveniles very closely indeed. If they already have Cheltenham form to their name that is a bonus but try not to discard those who may have flopped previously. While previous mistakes cannot be rectified, the experience from such errors can be learned from and runners generally on an upward curve could prove fruitful in this keenly contested handicap.
The top stables and yards will be ever present again in this race and horses stemming from these are sure to attract money. But don’t let that put you off chancing with a relatively unexposed type from a slightly less trusted background. Dismissing Sanctuaire’s nine length victory last year, the previous runnings have been very tight with only a couple of lengths separating the first three places. Expect this one to go right down to the wire where the stamina of these four-year-olds could be the difference between winning and losing.
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Foxhunter Steeplechase
Cheltenham Foxhunter Steeplechase
Foxhunter Chase betting verdict
Older horses hold the upper hand in the Foxhunter Chase in recent years and Baby Run should make a bold bid to follow up his success twelve months ago. Young Sam Twiston-Davies is an up and coming jockey and confidence can be assured he’ll have this horse nicely placed for an assault towards the winning post. Rudi Trucker should give his running and a line can be put through his last run at Leopardstown where the ground was on the heavy side. But a chance is taken on JUST AMAZING with Ryan Mahon in the saddle. This horse from Paul Nicholls’ yard will appreciate the slight step up in trip and has won at Cheltenham before, certainly worth a market inspection. Get a free £25 bet with William Hill.
Experience is key
Experienced horses are the ones to look out for in this race. The stiff numbers of fences are capable of catching a lot of horses out who lack fluency over obstacles. Last year Baby Run from the Twiston-Davies yard justified joint favouritism to land the spoils at 9/2. The 10yo gelding had placed five times over course and distance before landing the £40,000 Foxhunter Steeplechase prize. So those runners with previous promise over the obstacles at Prestbury are definite contenders when analysing the form picks for this race. What probably does make it harder though, is that horses eligible for this race must have a couple of first and seconds to their name in hunter chases at the very least. This means horses are going to arrive for this race in similar good form which makes it difficult to predict the outcome.
Keep an eye out for…
Sam Twiston-Davies is one of the top young amateurs to keep an eye out for and no doubt his father will be giving him the best possible chance of riding a Cheltenham Festival winner in this race. The major stables are always worth chancing in this hunter race, Paul Nicholls claimed consecutive victories in 2004 and 2005 while ex-jockey Jonjo O’Neill took the honours in 2007 with 9yo Drombeag. And it is horses this age that have a very good recent record winning four of the last six so could another be about to take what is often referred to as the ‘amateur Gold Cup’?
The last two runnings of this event have gone to single priced winners but prior to these we saw a 33/1 in 2008 and two 20/1 winners in 2006 and 2007. Trends aren’t quite so predictable for this race and chancing with a big price outsider could pay once more. Value is a certainty in this race as two 66/1 horses have made the placings in the last decade so do not be put off by the price because you just never know!
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William Hill Trophy
Cheltenham William Hill Trophy
Cheltenham Festival race guide – the William Hill Trophy
The first big handicap race of the festival quickly swings around, and this year’s renewal is predictably proving pretty hard to call. A sizeable field of runners is once again expected, but the market is finding it difficult to separate Hold On Julio and Quantitativeeaing at the head of affairs. The former has won all three of his chase starts to date, and the latter has finished first and second in his last two runs at Cheltenham respectively. This race has a habit of throwing up some healthy priced winners however, and it may pay to side with a particularly well treated rival.
William Hill Trophy odds
Three miles and ½ furlong is the trip for this race, where we can expect to see a large field of runners. Twenty four took to the fences twelve months ago yet seven of those were unable to complete their journey. So when analysing your selection for this race, a horse must have proven stamina because this is an unforgiving three miles regardless of ground conditions. The old course at Cheltenham demands a lot in any race, but the William Hill Trophy Handicap is not too dissimilar from the Grand National. In fact, several of those who competed in the corresponding race last year go on to make Grand National appearances. Take the David Pipe trained Comply or Die for example who won the 2008 running of the National but could only finish 13th in this race last year.
Previous Records of the William Hill Trophy
As far as records in this handicap go, Robert ‘Choc’ Thornton rode back-to-back winners in 2004 and 2005 aboard Fork Lightning and Kelami respectively. However, no stable has dominated this race in recent years which speaks volumes about the difficulty of preparing a horse for this race. But there are certain trends which can be identified in this race and the weight is vitally important. No horse since Unguided Missile in 1998 has been able to win this one carrying more than eleven stone to victory. Quite an interesting statistic to consider, so it may be best ebb on the side of caution before backing a top weight favourite in the William Hill Handicap Trophy.
British runners generally have an excellent record in this race and if you can chance on one with Cheltenham form already to its name, you will be giving yourself the best possible chance of beating the bookies. Previous results in this race suggests British course specialist have performed admirably so make a case for those runners who fit this winning criteria. It is a handicap after all, but there are those interesting contenders who may have got in lightly and/or are potentially ahead of the handicapper so be sure to thoroughly check this market in the run up to post time.
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Top Trainer
Trainers to follow at the Cheltenham Festival
Top Cheltenham Festival odds
Year after year the top stables regularly send out the winners at the Cheltenham Festival and it is common knowledge that each of them will be battling for the right to end up in the winner’s enclosure once more. Some trainers are often referred to as ‘course specialists’ at Prestbury and will go all out in their efforts to become Top Festival Trainer. But who will prevail come March? Here, we take a look at the very best of those with runners in the festival programme.
Paul Nicholls
A dominant force over the jumps, Paul Nicholls is regarded as one of the most successful National Hunt trainers of his time and it’s easy to see why. Four Gold Cups and three Queen Mother Chase’s appear very nicely at the head of his racing CV and one can be sure he’ll be going for gold again in 2011. Trainer of Kauto Star, Denman, Big Bucks and Master Minded; there are very few trainers that can boast this yard talent and all four will be gunning for major honours. Often pairing up with master jockey Ruby Walsh, the duo have had great success in the last decade since Nicholls’ breakthrough at Cheltenham with See More Business in the 1999 running of the Gold Cup. His Somerset-based stable has been firing on all cylinders of late in preparation for March and he sets the benchmark for the festival’s top trainer but can he land the spoils?
Nicky Henderson
Three winners at last year’s festival were enough for Berkshire-based trainer Nicky Henderson to claim the 2010 Top Trainer award. Henderson currently holds the record for the most wins in Cheltenham Festival history still active in racing but will he continue to lead the way after the four-day period in March? The former amateur jockey has an excellent record at the meeting training three Champion Hurdle winners and one Queen Mother Chase victor. And twelve months ago his star performer was Bincoular in the Champion Hurdle and one can be sure he will again give it a good shot in the latest renewal. One will regularly see Henderson sending out horses for owner JP McManus and stable jockey Barry Geraghty will be given the task of navigating his many runners.
Willie Mullins
This Irishman’s hot property for the 2011 Cheltenham Festival is arguably the hat-trick seeking David Nicholson Mares hurdler, Quevega. One of Ireland’s most successful jumps’ trainers, Mullins has had a glowing impact across the water here in Britain and all his runners must be monitored closely. He is the son of legendary trainer Paddy Mullins and will be striving to emulate his success with a few more Cheltenham winners in March. He will also have the services of a certain Ruby Walsh at his disposal and under the tutelage of the Irishman, they can have a huge impact from day one of the festival.
Jonjo O’Neill
Building on his success as a Champion National Hunt jockey twice, Jonjo O’Neill has made huge strides during his career as racehorse trainer. His Gloucestershire stable is based just down the road from Cheltenham after JP McManus signed the Irishman on as his leading trainer. His success to date at Cheltenham has been fairly limited, with his only notable win coming in the 2008 RSA Chase event with Albertas Run. With the services of Tony McCoy in the saddle every runner O’Neill sends to Cheltenham must hold every chance of success. Their green and gold hooped colours make his runners and riders easy to identify so certainly one to follow closely.
Philip Hobbs
A fearful, respectable record at Cheltenham’s premiere meeting, Philip Hobbs has tasted Queen Mother Champion Chase and Champion Hurdle triumphs whilst taking a number of the support races on the four-day card. His horses often perform admirably in the trail races before the festival as past results show his success in the Tingle Creek amongst others. Those who take in these races will have a good idea as to where Hobbs’ horses are before the showdown and one should be more knowledgeable of his chances. Richard Johnson is his stable jockey and the pair have a decent strike rate at Prestbury and expect it to continue.
Nigel Twiston-Davies
A long-serving trainer who has over four decades of experience gained his greatest success in last year’s Gold Cup with Imperial Commander. This victory really put the Twiston-Davies’ name in Cheltenham folklore and he will be aiming to follow up his success twelve months ago with a good Cheltenham Festival. Paddy Brennan is often in charge of riding his many runners, although his son Sam looks an up and coming star of the future after an impressive start to the jumps season. Expect the yard to pick up a winner or two, with a watchful eye on the progress of Imperial Commander.
Best of the rest…
Not for one moment should one take the aforementioned trainers as just those who can bag the winners. There are a notable number of other trainers who have previously hit form in time for Cheltenham. Alan King is one of those who has won the Arkle, Queen Mother and Champion Hurdle in previous years and one should not rule out further progress in 2011. Another of those that relishes the March showdown is David Pipe, who will be targeting many races including the one named after his father, David, on the final day. He often enters a number of runners with stable jockey Tom Scudamore often saddling the potent force. Noel Meade is the last to take a look at. The seven-time Irish Champion Trainer normally has a few big race entries and will be looking to score on the biggest of stages. An experienced trainer, who has been sending horses to Cheltenham for an age, will be in with a good chance of claiming a few big cash prizes.
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Starting Price of Cheltenham Winners
Starting prices of winners in Cheltenham grade races and handicaps
Cheltenham Festival betting
The Cheltenham festival is no stranger to serving up some tasty priced winners, whether it is in grade races and/or handicap contests. The latter often sees hefty outsiders upsetting the odds while the graded events generally go to those at the head of the market. However, in the unpredictable sport that is horse racing one is all too familiar with longshots showing the favourites a clean pair of heels. But is there a succinct difference in the starting prices of graded race winners and Handicap victors?
Each-way value
Last year the largest handicap race winner was Chief Dan George in the William Hill National Hunt Chase at odds of 33/1. Compare this with the largest winner in a grade 1 event and one will find Bertie’s Dream who won the Albert Bartlett Novices at the same price. So not much distinguishing between the two races at a first glance, and while larger odds are common in both races, they tend to be more so in Handicaps. The letter of the law for Handicap races allows for more skill in the betting as horses are weighted accordingly and if all run to their handicap mark, it should theoretically finish as a dead-heat between all the runners. But big price winners are common at the festival in handicaps and if we take the aforementioned William Hill Trophy Handicap and analyse the winners of the last ten years – winners of 33/1, 50/1, 25/1 and 20/1 have gone in. This just goes to show the each way value there is to be had in handicap races.
Graded events
Grade 1 events in the past have often gone to those at the head of the market. Take Kauto Star and Big Buck’s as two defining examples who have won the Gold Cup and World Hurdle twice before at odds against. The better the grade of a race will see only the top performers participate and these horses are fairly short in the betting because all hold very sound prospects. In the Gold Cup last year horses as high as 250/1 went to post yet rarely threatens against top class opposition who head the betting. However, Mon Mome was priced at 50/1 for this race last year and did manage third albeit a massive twenty-three lengths behind subsequent 7/1 winner Imperial Commander. While you may see 50/1 shots win Handicaps it is unlikely a horse this price will take one of the four major championship races, of which many go to single figure odds winners. There are as ever exceptions to this and there are shocks and upsets aplenty at the meeting.
So there is quite a line to be drawn between Handicap starting price winners and those who win top graded events. But the price shouldn’t put one off backing a selection and all too often the market in handicap races fails to guide towards the direction of the winner. As a general rule, one should not let the betting dictate and regardless of the SP, a horse who is well handicapped or is well up to the task of winning a top graded event should come in for some money.
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Ryanair Chase
Cheltenham Ryanair Chase
Cheltenham Festival race guide – Ryanair Chase betting
The Grade 1 Ryanair Chase is the third race on day three which will see entries five years or older do battle over two miles and five furlongs. During this distance, runners will have to take seventeen fences swinging left-handed as they complete the circuit on Cheltenham’s new course. Another race which was added to the festival’s card when a fourth day was introduced in 2005, but one which earmarked the rise of Nigel Twiston-Davies’ 2010 Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander. Paddy Brennan won aboard the 8yo in the Ryanair in 2009 and twelve months later he followed up this win by claiming the Gold Cup from heavily fancied pair Kauto Star and Denman. Surely this year we can’t envisage another future Gold Cup winner taking the Ryanair Chase can we?
Ryaniar Chase odds
In the six runnings of this event second favourites have had a very healthy record. In fact, three of those six have been solid in the betting behind the market leader so it might be best to focus on those horses occupying the top few in the betting. Paul Nicholls has a 33% strike rate in the Ryanair when teaming up with Ruby Walsh – they partnered Thisthatandother (2005) and Taranis (2007) to claim the £220,000 prize money. The deadly pairing are sure to be well backed in their pursuit of a three-timer in this and if money does arrive for Nicholls’ representative the market could guide.
Trip
The two mile five furlongs is an interesting distance, an intermediate one which is certainly an advantage to those horses who do not quite get the three mile trip but need a little more than two. And a good trial to assess potential entries trying this trip is the Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase in November. Imperial Commander won it in 2008 before going on to score in the Ryanair five months later. And this year Nigel Twiston-Davies worked his magic once more when son Sam scored on 20/1 shot Little Josh at Cheltenham over course and distance. So keep an eye on the front-running Little Josh in the run up to this one as the Twiston-Davies yard seem to be firing on all cylinders at this early stage of the season.
Last year can guide…
Last years winner Albertas Run was the largest price winner of the Ryanair since its inauguration scoring at 14/1. A P McCoy did the steering and rewarded those value punters who got on at this price. The Irish raider had previous Cheltenham winning form to his name and this could point the way to backing the 2011 victor.
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Queen Mother Chase Master Minded vs Big Zeb
Cheltenham betting – Master Minded vs Big Zeb?
Is the Queen Mother Champion Chase a toss up between Master Minded and Big Zeb
Question marks continue to hang over the head of Paul Nicholls’s star chaser Master Minded who fluffed his hat-trick bid in last year’s running of the Queen Mother. Big Zeb and Barry Geraghty foiled his efforts last time but the real Master Minded could well be back after three victories in as many races since his defeat at the festival. Colm Murphy runs Big Zeb again and will be hopeful of a repeat performance but he suffered a setback at Punchestown latest when he was beaten half a length by another Queen Mother entry Golden Silver. Somersby ran Master Minded to the wire and only a short head was the difference in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot in January – a result which leaves this Grade 1contest wide open.
All the talk prior to the 2010 Champion Chase surrounded Master Minded and his attempt for a third consecutive victory in the race. Sent off at 4/5 jolly, Ruby Walsh could not get a tune out of the French import as he tried to make an impression on the leaders. Of those leaders, it was Big Zeb who defied odds of 10/1 and won cosily in the end. But Master Minded seems to be running himself back into some sort of form with three odds on successes in preparation for the Queen Mother. However, he was run mightily close by the aforementioned Somersby last time and many would argue the horse has lost its sparkle of old. Clive Smith’s horse is now two years older than he was when he claimed the 2009 Queen Mother as a 6-year-old and many punters believe he could have burnt out at the age of eight. Punters will be queuing up to lay this horse at 5/2 but one would be foolish to think he has little left in the tank which has seen him power to two excellent Champion Chase wins.
On the other hand, Big Zeb would have surely been clear paper favourite for the race had it not been for his latest defeat to Golden Silver. Barry Geraghty looked the winner from a long way out but his failure by a narrow margin has seen bookmakers push out Big Zeb’s price a little to 11/4. But that form makes difficult reading as Golden Silver was beaten by Big Zeb at Leopardstown two runs back and to reverse the placing’s next time has left a lot to be desired for Willie Mullins’ 9-year-old. Big Zeb is two years Master Minded’s senior but age seems no barrier and a big run can be expected at Prestbury Park.
Somersby’s tight knit finish with Master Minded last time puts him right into contention for this race and the 8/1 about him is value. He has placed in all but one of thirteen appearances at a racecourse and has been the shining light of the underperforming Henrietta Knight stable at present. Sizing Europe (10/1) is another who could enter the fray and last year’s Arkle winner ran a creditable four-length second behind Kauto Star at Down Royal towards the back end of last year. Henry De Bromhead’s runner should give another good account and can threaten the ‘big two’ on his day. Woolcombe Folly (8/1) and Captain Cee Bee (10/1) can feature too and make this more than just a two-horse race.
The Queen mother Chase is far from a duel between Master Minded and Big Zeb although they could go off joint favourite for the festival’s day three feature race. Their prices currently fluctuate between the 11/4 and 3/1 mark so it will be interesting to see who the money comes for just before post time. Market confidence can often point the way and it would be no surprise to see them come in for major money. Big Zeb probably shades the vote, albeit a tentative one, after being nudged out of it last time.
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Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle
Cheltenham Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle
Cheltenham Festival race guide – Pertemps Handicap Hurdle betting
Arguably one of the most wide open contest across all of the four days where Buena Vista for the David Pipe team will bid to make it a hat-trick of wins in this handicap hurdle race. The eleven-year-old form has been rather patchy since last March and for that reason stablemate Our Father and Sivola De Sivola feature ahead of him in the ante-post markets.
Qualifiers
Jonjo O’Neill has an excellent record in this handicap claiming three wins, although the last of those was almost seven years ago with Creon. But any horse he sends out will no doubt come in for some cash, particularly if it has negotiated its passage to this final with ease. The eight qualifiers are the obvious place to start when analysing the form of these runners and those who breeze past these stages need to be taken very seriously indeed. One of those qualifying races is staged at Cheltenham monitor those who act on this course and distance.
Big price winners
Two 50/1 shots have been first home in more recent years, one of those was Creon for Jonjo O’Neill in 2004 and the other Kaldoun in 2006 for the Michael O’Brien yard. This just goes to show the greatest underdog can do well in the Pertemps Final Handicap and the form book of the previous qualifiers can sometimes go out the window. For this reason, one should consider all avenues even those with the most unlikely odds because Handicaps can be so unpredictable. Twelve months ago Hadden Frost was first home aboard Buena Vista for David Pipe. And 16/1 was a very generous price considering the 9yo gelding only failed by two lengths to Kayf Aramis the year before.
If you’re a favourite backer look away now because only one favourite has won this in the last decade. Inch Closer justified his price in 2003 but since market leaders have come unstuck so it may be best to look elsewhere once more. Value in handicaps must be sought after when time and time again we see big priced outsiders upset the odds. A thorough market inspection is needed before tackling this race from a betting perspective and any significant signals could speak volumes. There is likely to big gambles on the Irish representatives as there is most years so check on those market movers.
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Long Run Gold Cup Preview
Can Long Run take Imperial Commander’s Cheltenham Gold Cup crown?
Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup preview
All the talk prior to the King George VI Chase at Kempton in January revolved around Kauto Star as he attempted to land the race for the fifth consecutive year. Sent off 4/7 favourite Paul Nicholls’ star chaser finished a disappointing third behind impressive winner Long Run. Amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen aboard the French import comfortably dispatched of his rivals, spoiling the Kauto party in the process – but can the horse make the discernible step up and become a Gold Cup winning horse at Cheltenham?
The lightly raced 6-year-old has taken to a racecourse just five times before but has managed three victories. However Long Run’s two defeats have come at Prestbury Park – he was a beaten favourite on his penultimate start in the Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase despite being sent off 2/1 market jolly. He did run respectfully behind useful types Weapon’s Amnesty and Burton Port in last year’s RSA Chase at the festival but the Gold Cup represents a notable gulf in class. And if he is to frank his King George VI form then the Nicky Henderson trained horse must put an end to the myth that surrounds 6-year-olds winning the festival showpiece. One has to trawl through the archives and dig up the year 1963 since Mill House won the prize aged six. But only four horses this age have contested the race in the last 40 years so this record isn’t as awful as the statistics suggest.
In Long Run’s favour though is the last eight of the last 11Gold Cup winners contested the King George – so one must be shrewd before ruling out Mr Robert-Waley-Cohen’s 6/1 (Betfred) chance? The question may not be how good Long Run is, but just how good his rivals are. Imperial Commander looks the chief threat after landing the £475,000 prize twelve months ago but if Long Run is said to be too young to be crowned winner; the opposite can be applied to Nigel Twiston-Davies’ charge who turned ten this year. Cool Dawn in 1998 was the last horse aged ten years plus to score and before him Cool Ground in 1992 but Twiston-Davies believes the relatively few miles on Imperial Commander’s clock will stand him in good stead. Fellow Gold Cup winners Kauto Star and Denman are a year older but the reigning champion has competed in just 18 races under rules.
Rather worryingly perhaps is Imperial Commander’s preparation for the Gold Cup where he currently heads the betting at 7/2 with race sponsors Totesport. He has has just the one run this term when he landed the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November. He beat Nacarat that day by 2-and-a-half lengths and he has since contested the King George finishing a close up fourth behind Kauto Star so that form makes for difficult reading. Paddy Brennan schooled Imperial Commander at Kempton last Saturday and the horse looks to be fit and well after his early preparations were hampered due to a cut leg.
So what to make of Long Run’s chances against Imperial Commander and the field? The slight negative with Long Run is his only two defeats to date have come at Cheltenham. If he doesn’t act as well on the ground, Imperial Commander certainly has a love for the track with six course wins to his name. But this is far from a two-horse race, the remainder of the field pose serious dangers and one would be foolish to discount Paul Nicholls’ deadly duo should Kauto and Denman be on song.
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