Long Run is likely to bypass Cheltenham ahead of the Grand National
Long Run is likely to head straight to Aintree for the Crabbie's Grand National on April 5.
Last Updated: 25/02/14 1:32pm
The nine-year-old won the Betfred Gold Cup back in 2011 and was placed in both 2012 and 2013, but he has failed to hit the same kind of heights this term.
Following three luckless runs earlier in the campaign, Long Run finally returned to winning form with victory in a Class Two event at Kelso earlier this month, seeing off a decent yardstick in Knockara Beau by nine lengths.
Handed an initial weight of 11st 9lb in the Aintree feature, trainer Nicky Henderson and owner Robert Waley-Cohen will now focus their efforts on the marathon event rather than taking in Cheltenham along the way.
Henderson said: "I think in all probability he will go straight to Aintree.
"I've talked to Robert and I suspect he won't go to Cheltenham. We were very pleased with him at Kelso and he's great."