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March 1st, 2010. In a remarkable claim for a trainer who leads the table of winners at the Cheltenham Festival and whose career has spanned 32 years, Nicky Henderson made no secret on Monday at his Seven Barrows Stables, Lambourn that Punchestowns and Long Run “are the best chasers I’ve ever had.”
Remarkably the pair, both of French origin, will meet in Cheltenham’s RSA Chase for novices. The result may not be final.
“I’ve two years then to get them to the Gold Cup,” said Henderson in words reminiscent of Paul Nicholls when he was in the process of guiding Kauto Star and Denman to their Cheltenham goal in successive years.
Both Long Run and Punchestowns looked in winning condition.
“Thankfully there is no jockey issue” said the trainer, since Long Run’s owner Robert Waley-Cohen’s son Sam is the five-year-old’s regular partner and stable number one Barry Geraghty is always aboard Punchestowns.
“Only if the Cheltenham ground came up bottomless would we consider switching Long Run to the Arkle,” said Henderson.
Only the last two of Long Run’s 14 outings have been in Britain. Long Run, by the remarkable stallion Cadoudal, always raced at Auteuil for Guillaume Macaire in the land of his birth.
He created history by landing the Grade One Prix Cambaceres over hurdles at three and the Grade One Maurice Gillois over fences at four.
Punchestowns, two years senior to Long Run, was bred by Gerald Ferte and the son of Morespeed began his career in 2006 for trainer Philippe Chemin at Granville-St Pair Sur Mer.
He took a little longer to show his true potential but was a winner of a couple of AQPS flat races before being sold to Henderson and debuting over obstacles at Sandown two years ago.
Punchestowns won Grade One over hurdles – Ascot’s Long Walk – but then found Big Bucks too good for him in their matches.
Switched to chasing this season he is unbeaten, including Grade One at Sandown last month.
The betting for the RSA makes it virtually a match between the stable companions with Punchestowns shading favouritism.
If Henderson is right, French-bred steeplechasers look set to dominate proceedings at the highest level in Britain for years to come.
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Frogwatch, by Rolf Johnson 
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