Latest News / Timeform / 18 March 2011 /

Timeform reflect on an epic Cheltenham Gold Cup which saw a changing of the guard, as the new kid on the block, Long Run, overcame former winners Denman, Kauto Star and Imperial Commander...

Even the collection of nerds, number-crunchers and neurotics known as Timeform understand that there's a time to analyse and a time to enjoy. The 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup was about as enjoyable and thrilling a sporting event as you could ever see, with previous chapters in the race's history revisited and a new one created. As the field of thirteen was whittled down in the final mile, the winners of the previous four Gold Cups - Kauto Star, Denman and Imperial Commander - were virtually in line up front and piling on the pressure.

However, stalking them through was young pretender Long Run, who had been virtually off the Gold Cup radar earlier in the season (matched at [60.0] on Betfair ante-post market), and, in a symbolic changing-of-the-guard movement, Long Run swept past Denman and Kauto Star in the home straight to become the first six-year-old to win the race since Mill House in 1963.

It was also a momentous occasion for Long Run's trainer and jockey, Nicky Henderson finally putting his name on the Gold Cup roll of honour, while Sam Waley-Cohen became the first amateur to win the race in over thirty years. History was created in many respects, but first and foremost this was about Long Run who ushered in a new era, and he's as short as [4.5] on Betfair to defend his new crown in 2012.

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