Sam Waley-Cohen feels Long Run can be an even better horse in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup than he was when running away with the King George VI Chase at Kempton.

The six-year-old, who is owned by jockey Sam’s father, Robert, from Edge Hill, near Banbury, dethroned four-time King George winner Kauto Star at the Sunbury track, and chasing’s blue riband is the next port of call for the Nicky Henderson-trained gelding.

“He’s done extremely well since the race and has even perked up and really sharpened himself,” said Sam Waley-Cohen.

“It’s just a case of keeping him calm and getting him to the races.

“I try to get down to Nicky’s once a week and before the race I will try to get down there to school a couple of times and ride work a couple of times.

“At the end of the day it’s just about maintaining the relationship and trying to be there for the key pieces.

“People said he jumped brilliantly in the King George and he did, but he made some errors as well and there is a possibility that he’ll get better than that.

“He ran a fantastic race, but he should come on for it.”

While excited about the prospect of landing the most prestigious prize in National Hunt racing, Waley-Cohen respects previous Gold Cup kings Kauto Star, Denman and Imperial Commander.

“There are three previous winners in this year’s Gold Cup and they’ll all be there running big races,” he added.

“A race like that takes so much winning and you need so much luck on the day. You open the paper and look at the opposition and you just think it’s a great honour to be among them.”