LONG RUN WAS pushed all the way by stable mate Burton Port at Newbury today.
But the 4-7 favourite, ridden by Sam Waley-Cohen, edged it to get back to winning ways.
“That was just what we wanted,” Waley-Cohen told Channel 4 afterwards, ”I was really pleased with his jumping.
“He was a little careless with the water (jump), but apart from that he’s jumped really well. You couldn’t ask for more from a seasoned chaser. That is exactly the confidence boost you want to go to the Gold Cup with. We took the earplugs out but I’m not sure that made a big difference.
“In a funny way, he felt like a different horse altogether today. In the paddock he was more alert and looking more up for it and he’s just gone out there and done it really well.
“We went a right good gallop and, if anything, I think we’ve learnt how to set him up for a fence when you are going that big quicker.”
