Home / Horse Racing / Kauto Star's Odds On The Drift After Disappointing Third At Kempton

King George winner Long Run second favourite in the betting for 2011 Gold Cup

Long Run has been installed as second favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March following his stunning King George VI Chase win on Saturday. The 6-year-old spoiled the party in defeating the great Kauto Star who had been going for a sensational fifth consecutive win at the Kempton race. Long Run has been installed at an industry best priced 7/1 for the Gold Cup by William Hill bookmakers, behind only reigning champion Imperial Commander who is 7/2 in the betting.

Long Run announced himself as a potential Gold Cup winner with his fine jumping performance on Saturday at Kempton as he won by 12 lengths from stablemate Riverside Theatre. It rounded off a perfect day for trainer Nicky Henderson as the one-two put the icing on the cake of Binocular's Christmas Hurdle win earlier in the day. Henderson himself has admitted that Long Run looks to be a Gold Cup horse and the 2009 Feltham Novices winner is likely to next be seen in the big one at Cheltenham Festival in March. However, there is a note of caution alongside him because of doubts over whether the Cheltenham course suits his style after two third-placed finishes in his previous runs there, the most recent being in November's PaddyPower Gold Cup where he had been ante-post favourite.

It was Nacarat who set the pace as usual in Saturday's race before tiring to finish fourth, but it was the disappointing performance of ante-post favourite Kauto Star that raised eyebrows. All the talk before the race had been about whether Paul Nicholls' 11-year-old could win a fifth consecutive King George but by the finish many were questioning whether he was past his best. The disappointing third place finish had an immediate effect on his odds for the Cheltenham Gold Cup with WilliamHill.com as he drifted out to an industry best price of 12/1 after being as short as 4/1 before the race. He jumped poorly throughout the race at Kempton and effectively walked through the second last fence, and Paul Nicholls himself admitted he looked to have lost half a yard of pace and of more concern was the fact he bled from his nostrils after the race.

There was further concern for Nicholls as Kauto Star's stablemate The Nightingale was discovered to have a fibrillating heart after the race and could miss much of the rest of the season. The Nightingale had been expected to be a challenger to Kauto Star's dominance of the King George VI on the softer ground of Kempton at the weekend and was well backed in the ante-post betting but pulled up before two out. It is unclear whether he will race again this season and Wills have reacted accordingly by scratching him from the race betting.

Elsewhere there was disappointment for some other potential Gold Cup runners as Forpadydeplasterer pulled up before the 12th and was described after the race as a 'sick horse' by his trainer Tom Cooper. William Hill offer him at 50/1 for the Gold Cup currently. Meanwhile Albertas Run pulled up before the 13th, and has drifted out to 50/1 from 40/1 with William Hill for the Gold Cup at Cheltenham Festival in March.

Cheltenham Gold Cup Latest Betting

7/2 Imperial Commander
7/1 Long Run*
8/1 Denman*
10/1 Diamond Harry*
12/1 Kauto Star*
14/1 Pandorama*
16/1 Pride of Dulcote
20/1 Midnight Chase*
25/1 Punchestowns*
25/1 Sizing Europe
25/1 Time For Rupert
33/1 BAR

* Denotes best industry price. Odds supplied by WilliamHill.com, offering best odds guaranteed on the race.

Posted: Monday, 17th January 2011
Author: Chris James
Tags: cheltenham gold cup, long run, kauto star, imperial commander, william hill,

10 Latest Horse-racing Articles

	Height Of Fashion Stakes Odds Goodwood hosts Listed Oaks Trial Coquet And Gathering Head The Betting	23rd May
	Bonfire clipped in the latest Epsom Derby betting following key trial win 2000 Guineas Winner Camelot Remains Favourite	21st May
	Lockinge Stakes Odds Frankel all the rage in betting on seasonal reappearance Sir Henry Cecils Stable Star Long Odds On At Newbury	18th May
	Yorkshire Cup Odds Red Cadeaux heads the Group Two betting Harris Tweed Could Provide Value At York	17th May
	Middleton Stakes Odds Izzi Top Likely Favourite in Close Betting Race at York I	16th May
	Dante Stakes Odds Bonfire Set to Light Up York in Derby Trial Mandaean And Ernest Hemingway Also Being Backed	16th May
	Duke of York Stakes Odds Hoof It and Mayson Dispute Favouritism Ahead of York First Day Feature Restiadargent Looks Good Bet For Each Way Backers	15th May
	Musidora Stakes Odds The Fugue Should Start Favourite for Oaks Trial at York Twirl The Big Danger From Ballydoyle	15th May
	Betfred Victoria Cup Odds Lightning Cloud Can Strike for Kevin Ryan 24 Go To Post For Ascot Feature	11th May
	Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes Betting Wrote favourite for Ballydoyle Aidan O'Brien Has Won Five Of The Last Six Renewals	11th May

Archive - Previous 5 Horse Racing Articles

	King George VI Tips Kauto Star To Break Record At Kempton Park Forpadydeplasterer Can Chase Home the Champion	14th Jan
	2011 Queen Mother Champion Chase Entries Master Minded Heads Betting For 21 Entered Last years winner Big Zeb back for another crack	14th Jan
	Christmas Hurdle Betting Binocular Favourite But Khyber Kim The Pick At The Odds Starluck also with claims at Kempton	14th Jan
	Imperial Commander Heads Betting As 2011 Gold Cup Entries Announced Former winners Kauto Star and Denman also entered	13th Jan
	Dubai Racing Carnival Opening Night Betting Preview Cumani can win Opening Night Feature with Mabait	12th Jan

Headline News

	England V West Indies 2nd Test Odds Hosts Start Hot Favourites At Trent Bridge Tempting Odds For Ian Bell To Score A Century
	2012 BMW PGA Championship Tips Ben Curtis A Good Bet To Score On English Soil Again McDowell And Fraser Also Fancied To Do Well
	Crowne Plaza Invitational Odds Zach Johnson Heads The Betting At Colonial David Toms Returns To Defend His Title In Texas
	Height Of Fashion Stakes Odds Goodwood Hosts Listed Oaks Trial Coquet And Gathering Head The Betting
	Second Eurovision Semi Final Odds Graham Norton Gets Prepares To Poke Fun

£250 Free Bet - Paddypower

BRAND NEW £250 free bets offer.

Open a new account with Paddy Power and place an initial bet of between £10 and £50
Paddy Power will match this with a free bet to the same stake
Paddy Power then let you repeat this a further four times to allow you to claim a maximum of £250 in free bets.

Open Account - Free £250 Bets With Paddypower