Long Run more likely for the RSA

Nicky Henderson believes Long Run could finally be the horse to give him a first Cheltenham Gold Cup victory.

The five-year-old decimated a quality field on his British debut at Kempton in the Feltham Novices' Chase over three miles, but he will revert to the minimum distance for the Kingmaker Novices' Chase at Warwick on Saturday week.

He is as low as 5-1 for the RSA Chase in March but can be backed at double-figure prices for the Arkle.

"It's probably going to be called controversial as it is a very swift turnaround from three miles back to two," said Henderson.

"It was an idea I had after Kempton, where he was seriously impressive and looked a thorough three-mile horse, but he never stopped tanking all the way.

"We want this fellow around for quite a long time and I'm hoping he'll still be here in two years, where we will see if there is a chink at the top of the pecking order. If ever I've come across something that might be able to do it, this is it.

"He has got a lot of natural speed and rather than keep running him over three miles, I'd like to see what he is capable of doing over two, but in all probability he will end up in the RSA.

"He is only five and you can't help thinking that for horses of that age in staying races, life could be easier for them.

"He is a very exciting horse but this is experimental because he has a huge cruising speed which is pure natural ability, we just need to teach him the style of jumping English fences.

"I'm interested to see how he might jump going half a stride quicker because personally I think he might find it easier.

"We know he stays three but we don't know if he's a two-miler so if we had to decide today, he'd be in the RSA but I think it is worth a look the other way," he told At The Races."