CONGRATULATIONS TO SAM WALEY-COHEN AND LONG RUN

18-03-2011

Sam Waley-Cohen and six year old Long Run enjoyed their finest hour when storming home today in Cheltenham’s Gold Cup, beating gallant performances from Denman and Kauto Star.

This was not only the first Gold Cup win for an amateur jockey for 30 years, since the days of Jim Wilson and Little Owl in 1981, but also a first Gold Cup win for trainer Nicky Henderson.

Following his epic win, Sam said “I want to say thank you to everyone for believing in me and the horse.  This is beyond my wildest dreams.  I didn’t think we were going to get there, but he picked up and I think he still had a bit left.  When he got there he saw the crowd and he wanted to stop and have a look!  What a horse he is!”

Very many congratulations to Sam and his father, owner Robert Waley-Cohen who said “To have a runner in the Gold Cup is an honour; to have it ridden by your son and winning it is a dream.”