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Henderson Out to Wreck Kauto Kempton Party
22/12/11

Nicky Henderson seems to have more than accepted that he is likely to play the part of the pantomime villain at Kempton Park on Boxing Day when his young start Long Run bids to once again foil a fifth King George VI Chase victory for the hugely popular veteran Kauto Star, writes Elliot Slater.

Long Run
© racing-images.co.uk

Long Run

Last season Long Run produced a devastating performance to defeat his stable companion Riverside Theatre by 12-lengths in the big race with Kauto Star only third, a position that Paul Nicholls’ horse once again occupied when unable to resist the finishing kick shown by the new king in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. Most people had expected Kauto Star to gallop off into a much deserved retirement after pulling at Punchestown on his final start of last season but Nicholls refused to accept that the former dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero was ‘over the hill’ and produced the 11-year-old to put up an amazing performance on his seasonal bow in slamming Long Run by eight-lengths in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock Park in November. Those looking at the ante-post Kempton betting should bear this in mind.

Henderson accepts that his charge probably beat a below-par Kauto Star last season and knows that Sam Waley-Cohen’s mount will have to be at his very best to confirm the form of last year’s King George. Having stepped up his training schedule in recent weeks the Master of Seven Barrows is now confident that Long Run has come on considerably for his seasonal outing and is ready to serve it up again to the legendary senior chaser in the race that has the whole sport trembling in anticipation.

Both horses have attracted solid market support in the last week with Long Run now a firm 11/8 favourite and Kauto Star a solid 4/1 second best. It promises to be a truly amazing contest.


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