Long Run picking up King George prep Nicky Henderson will next week step up Long Run's preparations for the William Hill King George VI Chase again as he continues to remain unconcerned about his heavyweight's defeat at Haydock. Long Run will return to Kempton on Boxing Day to defend his crown, and is just 13-8 favourite with the sponsors despite an eight-length defeat to Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase. Henderson points to the form of last season, where the six-year-old could only manage third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham before demolishing Kauto Star as well as stablemate Riverside Theatre at Sunbury. Then, of course, he went on to Cheltenham Gold Cup glory. "He's very good and seems very happy in himself," said Henderson, who showed off a handful of his Kempton contenders on a grey and windy press morning at his Lambourn stable. "He did two canters this morning and he won't do any more serious work until next week. "As long as the King George is on the 26th (rather than postponed like last year), then hopefully we'll get the timings right." Looking back to the Betfair Chase, the trainer said: "He didn't blow for unnecessarily long afterwards and you look back at his run in the Paddy Power and say 'was that any better?'. This was probably better. "Kauto beat us fair and square on the day and he could be better this year. He's certainly going to be hard to beat and Paul Nicholls had him ready for the day. "We were ready enough and, as he has won a King George and a Gold Cup, you don't want him to get beaten, but he's a real star and he still has the rest of the season to show that." A less likely King George starter is Riverside Theatre, who was a runner-up by 12 lengths last year and only managed one more run, when winning the Ascot Chase, before suffering a setback. "I put him in the race and he's good, but it's nearly December and he's still cantering so I think you'd say he was unlikely," said Henderson. "His main objectives are Ascot again, and the Ryanair Chase."
