Long Run To Get 2014 Grand National Entry

Back in October 2012, trainer Nicky Henderson had quite a plan for the 2011 Gold Cup winner Long Run. If, for whatever reason, he was he unable to contest the Gold Cup in March 2013 then he would head to Aintree for the Grand National.

But when the entries were announced Long Run’s name was nowhere to be seen so it went without saying that connections had opted to send him to Cheltenham where he had a great race and finished in third place behind the winner Bobs Worth and second place, Sir Des Champs, the same as he done in 2012.

But as he will turn nine years old in 2014, it looks like Nicky Henderson and owner, Robert Waley-Cohen have set their sights on sending Long Run to the Grand National.

Speaking to At The Races back in April, Waley-Cohen said “I will also put him in the National as a saver because I think he would enjoy that, but I’m not sure whether he could run in both the Gold Cup and the National in the same season so we will have to make calls as the season evolves.”

The Waley-Cohens have previously enjoyed a number of successes in the National with Oscar Time finishing in fourth place this year despite being 12 years old. As he is unlikely to participate in 2014, it will be the turn of Long Run to fly the colours but as a Gold Cup winner and only nine years old, he is almost certain to get top weight of 11-10 when they are announced next February.

For now though, ante-post odds are available on him with both Paddy Power and VC Bet putting him at 25/1.