Sam Waley-Cohen believes the main threat to Long Run regaining his Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup crown is likely to come from stablemate Bobs Worth.

The amateur jockey rides the King Geo-rge VI Chase winner, owned by his father, Robert, from Edgehill, near Banbury.

And the rival he fears most on March 15 is Hennessy Gold Cup hero Bobs Worth, who like Long Run is housed at Nicky Henderson’s stables at Lambourn.

Waley-Cohen said: “Bobs Worth’s form looks incredibly impressive and improving second-season chasers have a strong record, so he has to be the one to beat.

“But in many years you would have to say the winner of the King George would have to be favourite, so it’s an intriguing race this year.

“The form of all the leading contenders is strong, whether it’s Sir Des Champs or Silviniaco Conti, or some that haven’t been prominent in the betting.

“In reality whatever wins it is going to have to run up to a mark which they have not yet achieved and that is what makes this race particularly exciting.”

Long Run and Bobs Worth are due to gallop after racing at Kempton on Saturday.