Champion jockey Tony McCoy does not have a ride King George VI Chase but believes Long Run can defeat Kauto Star again at Kempton on Boxing Day.
McCoy partnered Kauto Star a year ago when the younger legs of Long Run seized the day in impressive fashion.
Kauto Star gained revenge for that defeat, and a reverse at the hands of Nicky Henderson’s six-year-old in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, with an emotional success at Haydock last month.
“Long Run was a very good winner last year of the King George and was impressive in doing that. He went and franked the form again in the Gold Cup to prove it was no fluke,” McCoy said on sponsor William Hill’s podcast.
“Kauto’s win in Haydock was a great spectacle for horse racing. He’s been an amazing horse, he’s won four King Georges and is just an absolute superstar.
“There’s no doubt he’s going to give Long Run plenty to do, but I just feel that those Nicky Henderson horses have all been improving for each run that they’ve had and I think Long Run will be no different.
“I saw him schooling (on Friday morning), he jumped fantastic, and as much as Kauto is as good a horse as we’ve ever seen, I just think he has probably got it all to do to beat Long Run again.
“Kauto Star has been a superstar for racing, a great advert for the sport. He’s probably the best horse that I have seen in my lifetime, he’s something that every racegoer wants to see perform.
“He very rarely lets them down, but I just think Long Run being a six-year-old and him being an 11-year-old, the younger horse might prevail this time.
“It (a Kauto Star win) would be great for horseracing, it would certainly raise the roof.
“I think Long Run will probably go head-to-head with Kauto Star.
“Any horse that wins the Cheltenham Gold Cup has to be the ultimate stayer and I think Long Run will be putting his stamina to good use at Kempton.
“If Kauto Star doesn’t perform, I could see Captain Chris giving Long Run most to do. I’m not sure about the trip for Master Minded, I think the three miles might be beyond him against really good stayers like Kauto Star and Long Run.”
Asked which horse he would like to ride, McCoy said: “You’re heart probably says Kauto Star, but I think the head would say Long Run.”
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