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racing news |
Market Support for King George Favourite Long Run
21/12/11
Punters appear to have decided that 6/4 was simply too good a price to resist for Long Run to follow up his victory of 12 months ago in the Grade 1 King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day and have taken the last of those odds on offer, leaving Nicky Henderson's charge a rock solid 11/8 market leader, writes Elliot Slater.
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With Henderson satisfied that last year's hero has come on significantly since his shock eight-length defeat at Haydock last month, plenty of money has been seen in recent days for the horse who went on to such a tremendous success in last March's Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup when he defeated the Paul Nicholls-trained pair of Denman and Kauto Star in a race that will live long in the memory. He is now firm favourite in the King George VI Chase odds.
Last term Long Run met his one and only defeat when finishing only third on his seasonal bow behind Little Josh in the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham before improving something in the region of 20lbs to trounce his stable companion Riverside Theatre in the rescheduled Kempton highlight in mid-January. Many people expect the six-year-old to once again come on for his first run of this term when a 100% fit Kauto Star put up a stunning performance to make all the running and power to an emotional-filled success at Haydock. Those placing horse racing free bets will be wondering if the old master can triumph again.
Although Paul Nicholls is far from convinced that Long Run was some way short of peak fitness, most other observers expect the Sam Waley-Cohen-ridden star to improve and punters are now supporting that view with cash, making 11/8 the current top price for the horse bidding to win back-to-back renewals of the great Sunbury race. Kauto Star is a solid 4/1 second favourite, whilst his stablemate Master Minded can be backed in places at 11/2.
