Long Run ends faltering Kauto Star's bid for Kempton history

Long Run, the six-year-old trained by Nicky Henderson and ridden by amateur Sam Waley-Cohen for his owner father Robert, comfortably won the second biggest steeplechase on the seasonal card, with Kauto Star frankly looking every one of his 11 years as he trailed in a well-beaten third behind Long Run and Henderson's other entrant, Riverside Theatre.

The bid for the historic fifth successive victory in the Grade 1 race went awry almost from the start as it was clear that 4-7 favourite Kauto Star was not enjoying himself. He fiddled too many fences and, despite champion jockey Tony McCoy's urgings, Paul Nicholls' charge could not raise a gallop in the home straight and he belted the second last so hard that only McCoy's amazing reactions kept the partnership intact.

Perhaps the 20-day delay in the race due to the big freeze had put Kauto Star 'over the top' in training terms but, if so, Nicholls wasn't complaining, saying that Kauto Star's preparation had been "brilliant".

Typically honest, Nicholls said: "To me, watching it, he was never going to win. I didn't think he was going that well on the first circuit. The commentator kept saying, 'oh he's cruising', but he wasn't travelling. And it's almost as though he's lost half a yard of speed. He's getting older, isn't he?"

That is the truth of it. Kauto Star has been a magnificent adornment to the sport of racing, but time spares nothing and it may be that owner Clive Smith will think it prudent to call it a day. After all, what more does the horse have to prove?

The race had unfolded in straightforward terms. Nacarat took the field along until the last section of the back straight on the second circuit, then it was meant to be Kauto Star, always in the van, who would take up the running and gallop away with the 102,000 first prize. McCoy asked the question and 'no answer' was the loud reply.

Instead, Waley-Cohen pushed 9-2 shot Long Run into the lead round the home turn and soon put the issue beyond doubt. Riverside Theatre, backed into 10-1, came from another county to finish strongly under Barry Geraghty and make it a one-two for trainer Henderson.

Henderson was full of praise for his amateur jockey and the horse who is now set to be Imperial Commander's main threat in the Cheltenham Gold Cup: "Sam has given him a wonderful ride. He's got into a rhythm and his jumping was great. I didn't see him put a foot wrong. Riverside Theatre has run a wonderful race as well." Henderson had earlier seen his faith in Champion Hurdle hero Binocular confirmed in fine fashion. Ridden by Tony McCoy, Binocular was back to his brilliant best to lift the William Hill Christmas Hurdle in stylish fashion. Binocular was clearly going to win from some way out, the seven-year-old having been kept at the front whereas he has been held up in the past.

"That was really impressive today," said Henderson. "There was no point dropping him in with that lot behind us as it would have turned into a sprint. AP was perfectly happy and if he's happy, I'm happy. I think we are getting there. In fact, I know we're getting there."

What might be even more significant for those who follow the fortunes of stables is that Long Run and Binocular were just the highest-earning pair of a five-timer for Henderson.

The victories of 4-7 favourite Nadiya De La Vega and 15-8 favourite Chablais in the two divisions of the William Hill Novices Hurdle plus Polyfast's thrilling win by a head at 9-2 in the William Hill Home of Betting handicap chase showed that Henderson has strength in depth at his Seven Barrows stable.

He could now go on to challenge Nicholls for the championship that seemed booked for the reigning champion trainer.

McCoy, meanwhile, notched a treble on the day, aboard David Pipe's Kazzene in the opening William Hill Juvenile Hurdle, and Ski Sunday for Lawney Hill in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle. Those victories and that of Binocular will in no way compensate McCoy for the failure of Kauto Star to make history.

At least the Irish genius should stay at the top, but that cannot be said of Kauto Star and Nicholls. For yesterday signalled perhaps the latest changing of the guard in National Hunt racing, when younger horses arrive and see off illustrious forebears, and trainers emerge to take on champions and perhaps force their own way to the pinnacle.

It has always been thus in racing, and always will be, for that is the nature of the sport.