The youngster dethroned multiple champion Kauto Star with a brilliant display at Kempton on Saturday and the official handicapper believes the horse improved on his previous performance by about a stone, though he is in any case a young and improving animal.
Long Run wore blue ear plugs for the first time on Saturday, prompted by the feverish adulation that Kauto Star was expected to attract:
"L follows K, so we were going to be right after Kauto Star in the parade," said Long Run's owner, Robert Waley-Cohen, "and we thought that would mean there was a lot of noise from the crowd as he walked past.
"And sure enough there was a great cheer for Kauto Star. One of the problems we've had with him is that, although he's very calm in the stabling area, he gets very excited and wound up in the paddock and we thought the ear plugs might help to keep him calm,"
Long Run came home 12 lengths clear in Saturday's race and Nicky Henderson is now aiming to have him back at the peak of his powers for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.
"He's come out of it really well. He's been out in the paddock for a bit and it went really good," said Henderson.
"I can see why the earplugs would help on him on a big day with a big crowd like at Kempton, and they (earplugs) will be there come March, all being well.
"It's highly, highly unlikely that he'll run before Cheltenham. In fact, it's almost certainly improbable."
Long Run can still be backed at best-price 7/1 (Stan James) for the Gold Cup, whilst Kauto Star is now best-price 10/1 (totesport).
With all the plaudits having been afforded to Long Run, the excellent performance of stablemate Riverside Theatre to fill the runner-up spot in the King George has gone slightly under the radar.
He does not have an entry in the Gold Cup, and Henderson believes his main target could be Aintree's Melling Chase in April.
"When you see what he did on Saturday over three miles, you can see why it went wrong in the Arkle last season," Henderson added.
"Two miles was just purely and utterly too short or him, but now you see the stamina he has got. I think if he goes to Cheltenham he'll go for the Ryanair, but much more likely he'll wait for the Melling Chase at Aintree."
Riverside Theatre is as short as 8/1 for the Ryanair Chase but available at a standout best-price 16/1 with Sportingbet.
Long Run (left) now heads Kauto Star (right) in the 2011 Gold Cup market
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