Gold Cup competitor Long Run wins at Newbury

Horse racing fans have been eagerly anticipating the rescheduled Newbury event, which had been put on hold due to bad weather conditions. As Long Run was due to perform on the tracks, many saw the Betfair Denman Chase as the ideal race for picking out last minute Cheltenham Gold Cup odds as it would highlight how the horse was likely to perform in the 2012 Cheltenham Festival.

Both of the horses Henderson entered into the Newbury event raced well. Long Run won his chase and Sprinter Sacre placed first in the rescheduled Super Saturday Chase, looking on good form for his Arkle Chase at Cheltenham.

Long Run remains the 2012 Gold Cup favourite

Long Run’s Newbury win highlights that the competitor has remained at the top of his game, meaning he could defend the Cheltenham Gold Cup title he won in 2011. The races in the run up to the March event help to provide both trainers and punters with an idea of a horse’s potential. Long Run winning just weeks away from Cheltenham Festival suggests that he is likely to perform well in the Gold Cup.

Cheltenham Gold Cup tips

While Long Run won the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury and currently has the shortest available odds for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, there are still a number of obstacles that could prevent Long Run from winning. Firstly, the horse will be competing against Kauto Star – and it has been predicted that the horse could stand a good chance of beating Long Run. While Kauto Star may be one of the oldest competitors, he has performed well this season, silencing critics who believed that he should have retired last year following a slight dip in his form.

Another horse to consider prior to taking out Cheltenham Gold Cup bets is Burton Port. The horse made Long Run work hard for his win at Newbury in spite of his absence due to sustaining an injury last season. As a result of his second place position, Burton Port odds have shortened dramatically for the Cheltenham Gold, where he will be competing against Long Run again.

Check out Long Run’s other competitor Kauto Star in the 2009 Betfair Chase at Haydock: