Long Run 5/2 for Cheltenham Gold Cup repeat win

Long Run should only get better as a seven-year-old next year and therefore will be extremely tough to stop if he returns to defend his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown.

It is 5/2 in the Cheltenham Gold Cup betting that he wins the showcase for the second year in succession, which would take him one step closer to the five victories claimed by the legendary Golden Miller.

He has every chance of getting close to this landmark based on the way he surged up the Cheltenham hill under Sam Waley-Cohen to land the spoils ahead of gallant old-timers Denman and Kauto Star.

The victory was the first by a six-year-old in the Cheltenham Gold Cup since Mill House in 1963 and there is every reason to believe that he will only become more difficult to beat, particularly over the coming two years when he will be arguably at his peak.

With both Denman and Kauto Star potentially running their final races at Cheltenham after putting up sterling performances for 11-year-olds, the pressure will be on Long Run’s fellow young guns to stop Nicky Henderson’s horse.

Time For Rupert had been considered for the race this year before connections decide to run him in the RSA Chase for which he was a heavy favourite.

He disappointed in this contest, but had shown plenty of talent before hand to suggest that he was a future Cheltenham Gold Cup horse.

Time For Rupert is 20/1 to win the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup, while the other main challenger could be Diamond Harry.

Diamond Harry is also 20/1 to win next year and there will be high hopes of his chances after an injury to the suspensory ligament on his near-fore ruled him out of this year’s race.

A £20 stake on Diamond Harry winning the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup would return £400. New customers can sign up here to take advantage of free bets totalling up to £60.