Long Run & Kauto Star set for Haydock Long Run remains on course to make his seasonal reappearance at Haydock before defending his crown in the King George VI Chase. Nicky Henderson's French import was a brilliant winner of the St Stephen's day highlight last year and went on to claim Cheltenham Gold Cup glory. He is due to return to action in the Betfair Chase on November 19, before heading back to Kempton. Henderson said "He's most certainly on target for a second King George, everything's gone great. He's big, strong and well. "He's struggled with the weather a little bit, it being so dry, but, whatever happens at Haydock, the objective is the King George - so far so good!" Long Run's stablemate Riverside Theatre chased him home in last year's King George but he is unlikely to renew rivalries this Christmas. The gelding suffered an injury that ruled him out of the Cheltenham Festival in the spring and Henderson does not expect him to be ready for the King George. "He has only just come back into light work this week, so as much as I'd like to get him to the King George, I only have just over a month and it's not realistic," the Seven Barrows handler added. "I'm very happy where I've got to with him at the moment, but I'm not sure it's going to get him to the King George in time. "Our principle objective is the Ryanair Chase, which it was last year. "He certainly wouldn't get a run in before the King George and therefore I think it's unlikely that he'd make his debut for the season in the King George." Kauto Star's comeback run in the Betfair Chase will tell connections whether he should bid for a remarkable fifth King George win. His owner Clive Smith is set to be represented either way with Master Minded in the mix, but he needs to bounce back following a disappointing run at Aintree. "He’s come out very well. He wasn't really correct for the race, although he's come on a lot and the race will not have done him any harm," Smith said of Master Minded. "We think Kempton will suit him. We feel he's slightly better right-handed and if the going's about right, it'll be OK for him. On Kauto Star, Smith added "He has been a remarkable horse. He always looks very well and trains very well, he's a very enthusiastic horse, he's looking very good. "It's a very strong race at Haydock actually, there are a lot of good entries but I'm sure he'll do OK. "That will tell us so much. If he was very close we'd be very happy, if he really wasn't enthusiastic about the run for any reason, we'd think about retirement. "But we feel he's nothing like that, he's looking very well. I think he retains a lot of his ability, so we'll see what happens."
