Sam Waley-Cohen is hoping to make his first ride at Punchestown a winning one when Long Run contests the Bet Online With TheTote.com Punchestown Gold Cup (5.30) today.
Long Run, owned by Sam’s father, Robert, who lives at Edgehill, near Banbury, finished third in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham for the second successive year following his 2011 triumph in chasing’s blue riband.
But for the last four seasons his campaign has ended in Gloucestershire.
This year, however, connections are keen to let the eight-year-old, trained by Nicky Henderson at Lambourn, have one more spin.
Sam Waley-Cohen said: “He appears to have come out of Cheltenham very well and seems to be enjoying life, so we thought we’d rise to the challenge and take on Ireland.
“I’ve never ridden at Punchestown before and am really excited to be going over there.
“This is one of the great racing festivals and it’s a real thrill to be part of it.”
Gold Cup runner-up Sir Des Champs heads the opposition.
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