Two-time winner Kauto Star remains in doubt for the Cheltenham Gold Cup after suffering a fall on the gallops late last week.
The 2007 and 2009 champion is 4/1 with bookmaker to complete a hat-trick, with trainer Paul Nicholls hopeful that his charge will be ready to go for the big race on Friday 16th March.
He told Sky Sports News: “We’re still hopeful, we’ve still got a fortnight.
“He needs to be at his very, very best to run in the race. That’s what we need to get him at, there’s just a chance he might not.”
With Kauto Star’s participation still in question, Long Run is 11/10 to repeat his victory of 12 months ago, but jockey Ruby Walsh is hopeful that he and his mount will be there to deny the Robert Waley-Cohen charge.
Walsh, who was on board Kauto Star in both 2007 and 2009, added: “A lot will depend on what happens in the next ten days. If he’s right he runs, if he’s not he won’t.”
