Long Run is firmly on course for Saturday’s Betfair Chase at Haydock after delighting connections in a schooling session yesterday.

The 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero, second in the last two runnings of this weekend’s Grade 1 feature, finished outside the first three for the first time in his career when a lacklustre fifth in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby last month.

Owner Robert Waley-Cohen, who lives at Edgehill, near Banbury, is hopeful Long Run will show his true colours on Merseyside after watching a session with jumping guru Yogi Breisner at trainer Nicky Henderson’s Lambourn stables.

Waley-Cohen said: “He schooled really well. Everyone was very happy.

“It’s going to be an exciting day.”