Gold Cup review

A changing of the guard was completed as Sam Waley-Cohen created history aboard Long Run in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Long Run was the first six-year-old to take the prize since Mill House in 1963, and his jockey the first amateur for three decades to triumph.

It was also a first Gold Cup for trainer Nicky Henderson as the French-bred came seven lengths clear of Paul Nicholls' former champions Denman and Kauto Star.

It was only Imperial Commander, hero of 12 months ago, who could not receive a fitting ovation as he was quickly pulled up.

Any Gold Cup sets the pulse racing but this one will have provided an even greater rush, with the old guard all lining up together on the treacherous downhill approach to the home straight.

But it was to be Long Run's hour, the 7-2 favourite looking every inch as accomplished as in January's King George VI Chase.

The 28-year-old Waley-Cohen, who runs a string of dental practices, said: "I will have to go back to work on Monday, as we have patients and livelihoods to look after.

"This isn't the day job and I doubt it will sink in until then. "I've spent so many countless hours thinking about this, and I'll be thinking 'I've achieved it, what do I do now?

"Over some of those fences you have so much air time that you just hope they get the landing gear out. He's phenomenal."

Henderson added: "The Champion Hurdle has been good to us but Gold Cup and the National are the two races we were missing. It's nice to get one in the bag.

"It was a great race because all the horses have run great races - there's no disputing it."

It is just possible Long Run will run again this season at Aintree, Punchestown or even Auteuil.

Nicholls was bursting with pride for his two valiant 11-year-olds, as well as fourth-placed What A Friend.

"I'm not disappointed at all, believe me. Nobody likes getting beaten but I'm just so proud of the horses," said Nicholls.

"This marks the change of the guard and I've never doubted that. Our two old boys put it up to Long Run, but he came through and he's the best young horse in training.

"I've got to sit down and talk to the owners and I'm not going to make any quick decisions."

Imperial Commander's trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies revealed afterwards that his star turn had burst a blood vessel.

"It happened just at the top of the hill, which is why he made a bad mistake at that fence," said the Naunton handler.

"He'll probably start off in the Betfair Chase at Haydock again next year."

Plans are less concrete, however, for two-time Gold Cup winner Kauto Star. The 11-year-old gelding, also trained by Nicholls, atoned for last year's fall in the race when finishing an honourable third under Ruby Walsh.

"It was a fantastic performance and I'm a very proud man," said owner Clive Smith.

"I thought he might even get there coming into the straight, but we came across a very talented horse with younger legs and it was probably too much for him.

"Long Run was the Kauto Star of four years ago, I believe, so very well done to him and his team.

"Paul has texted me to say everything is fine with the horse, so we'll now have to see where we go with him now.

"We said at the Festival we wouldn't make any hasty decisions, so we must sit down and have a discussion as to what we do next."

Imperial Commander, last year's champion, was found to have burst a blood vessel and was pulled up before the last fence.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained 10-year-old will be assessed over the coming days, but is unlikely to run again this season, according to part-owner Hugh Doubtfire.

Doubtfire said: "He bled from the nose, but I believe he trotted up soundly after the race.

"It's a great shame because he got into a nice jumping rhythm and travelled really well.

"He's not done it (bled) before, but once horses get blood into their lungs they can't breathe, which is probably why he seemed to stop very quickly.

"There will be options to consider as to what we do now, but it's early days, so I think we'll have to see how he comes out of this first.

"If he did anything else this season it would probably be Punchestown, but it seems very unlikely at this stage.

"We were so fortunate to win the Gold Cup last year, so we can't get too disheartened - as long as the horse is OK, that's all that matters.

"Long Run is a fantastic horse and it was a fantastic race."

Midnight Chase is likely to report for duty at Aintree next month after he stayed on to take fifth spot.

Neil Mulholland's brave nine-year-old, who endeavoured to make all of the running, kept going along the straight after seemingly well beaten at one stage.

He is now poised to take his chance in the totesport Bowl on Merseyside, where he could return a year later for the John Smith's Grand National.

Mulholland said: "He stayed and galloped all the way to the line and I was delighted with him.

"He didn't let anyone down and he's come home in one piece.

"I thought he was going to drop away, and, at one stage, it even looked like he was going to get lapped.

"But the longer the race went on, the more I wanted the winning line to be further away as all he does is stay.

"He's probably a National horse next year but first we'll probably look at going to Aintree next month for the totesport Bowl.

"This year's National will be a year too soon. The Scottish National is a very small option but with a mark of 163, having to give a lot of weight away would be very hard for him.

"I see him as good staying chaser for next year so we'll probably have another go in the Gold Cup before the National."

Howard Johnson, meanwhile, is tempted to let Tidal Bay take his chance in this year's National.

The enigmatic 10-year-old did well to finish sixth under Brian Hughes, especially as he is a far sharper animal on a rain-softened surface.

Johnson said: "He ran a great race, but it's a pity they hadn't had a drop of rain as he would have got a bit closer with a bit of cut.

"We'll give him a week to come to himself, but I might take a chance with him in the National - it's either that or the totesport Bowl.

"He's got lots of weight in the National, but he comes alight in races he's never run in before.

"He's jumping as well as ever and that longer trip, with a clear run, might be just the ticket."

Irish raider China Rock remains in England for treatment after suffering a season-ending injury.

The eight-year-old chestnut, trained by Gold Cup-winning handler Mouse Morris, travelled sweetly from the outset before suddenly weakening four out.

China Rock was subsequently pulled up before the penultimate fence, but it later transpired he had sustained tendinitis in one of his legs.

"I've had to leave him over in England," said County Tipperary-based Morris.

"He's with the doctors and vets over there because he's got a bit of tendinitis.

"It's not life-threatening or anything like that - he'll be back, but not this season.

"I'm gutted because he would have definitely finished in the first four.

"Going down the hill he was travelling unbelievably well."

Weird Al, like Imperial Commander, also suffered a broken blood vessel during the race.

He, too, was pulled up after fading towards the rear with a circuit remaining.

Trainer Ian Williams reported: "He's thankfully come back safe and sound, but we're extremely disappointed for all of his connections.

"He's never bled before, which makes it all the more frustrating, as you put that amount of preparation into such a small space of time.

"It's very unlikely he'll run again this season."